Exposition Park and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Links to the Photo Collection of the Los Angeles Public Library

Exposition Park is bounded by Figueroa to the east, Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd. to the south, Vermont Avenue to the west, and Exposition Boulevard to the north. Originally named Agricultural Park, the area was developed in 1876 as a showground for agricultural and horticultural fairs. The property became state land in 1880. In the 1890s it was privatized and attracted transients and rough characters. A campaign succeeded in restoring the park to the public and in 1910 it was renamed Exposition Park. In 1913 the Natural History Museum was constructed. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was added in 1923. The sunken Rose Garden, comprising seven and a half acres, was completed in 1928 with an initial 15,793 rose bushes. Exposition Park was the site of the 1932 Olympics.

The photographs of Exposition Park below are housed at the Los Angeles Public Library. We have grouped them in roughly chronological order.

Click on thumbnail or on link to see photo.

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http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010017.jpg

Title: Race day at Agricultural Park (now Exposition Park) pre-1900 with Club House in background.

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Title: Race day at Agricultural Park (now Exposition Park) pre-1900.

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Title: Racetrack at Exposition Park showing bleachers (n.d.).

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Title: Racetrack at Agricultural Park (now Exposition Park) (n.d.)

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Title: View of gate into Agricultural Park (Exposition Park) (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park in 1910.

Description: Exposition Park looking north toward the old entrance on Wesley Ave. on May 1, 1910, with the clubhouse on the right.

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Title: Exposition Park Los Angeles County Historical and Art Museum (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park soldiers (WWI?) in area that is now Rose Garden.

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Title: Rose garden and pool in front of building at Exposition Park (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park old wood frame building (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park view (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park temporary building for Liberty Fair held Dec. 6-14, 1919.

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Title: Five men at Exposition Park between columns of a museum (n.d.).

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Title: Pershing Day at Sunken Rose Gardens in Exposition Park, Jan. 26, 1920.

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Title: Exposition Park croquet field at side of State Armory Building (n.d.).

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Title: Review of LAPD police officers at L.A. Memorial Coliseum, 1927.

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Title: Exposition Park flower garden (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park Flowers (n.d.).

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Title: Rose garden at Exposition Park (n.d.).

Description: Sunken gardens, also called Rose Garden, at Exposition Park, formerly called Agricultural Park, with State armory building. This photo shows people gathered around the fountain located in the middle of the garden with rose bushes in bloom in foreground.

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010026.jpg

Title: Rose garden at Exposition Park (n.d.).

Description: Sunken gardens, also called Rose Garden, at Exposition Park, formerly called Agricultural Park, with State armory building. This photo is taken from one of the open structures on the garden grounds. Two women can be seen on the right.

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Title: Exposition Park Athletic Building interior, 1930.

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Title:  Exposition Park Athletic Building interior view, 1930.

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Title: Exhibition of motorcycle officers at L.A. Memorial Coliseum, 1930.

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Title: Inspection of LAPD motorcycle officers at Coliseum, 1930.

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Title: Stunt dog demonstration at police show, Coliseum (n.d.).

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Title: Police dog demonstration at Coliseum (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics04/00011757.jpg

Title: Police and fire chiefs at Coliseum (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park sunken rose garden (n.d.).

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Title:  Woman in sunken rose gardens at Exposition Park, State Armory in background (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park buildings under construction (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park building under construction (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park building under construction showing steel frame (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park buildings and walkways (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park Olympic Playground, shown at time of 1932 Olympics (2 views), 1932.

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Title: Exposition Park building (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park Olympic Playground, shown at the time of the 1932 Olympic Games.

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Title: Mexican American family at Expostition Park , 1934.

Description: L to R Manuel, Luis and Nellie Tafoya at Exposition Park, Easter Sunday 1934.

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Title: Exposition Park Athletic Building and sports field (n.d.).

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Title: Rose garden at Exposition Park (1935).

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Title: Woman holding trophy in 4 locations in Exposition Park (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park painting, 1930s.

Description: A painting by Chris Siemer of the Los Angeles Coliseum in Exposition Park around the 1930s, created for a display for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. The horse created by the card section indicates that a USC football game is in progress.

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Title: Sammy Lee, Korean American diving champion, at Coliseum, 1937.

Description: Sammy Lee, Olympic diving champion, with Korean Olympic athletes near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (visible in background).

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Title: Exposition Park Swimming Stadium, 1937.

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Title: Exposition Park roses with USC's Mudd Hall in background (1937).

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Title: Exposition Park aerial view showing buildings under construction (n.d.).

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Title: Korean American diver (Sammy Lee, Olympic Diving Champion) and friends at Exposition Park swimming pool, 1938.

Description: Sammy Lee, Olympic diving champion, with two women friends at Exposition Park swimming pool, 1938. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is partially visible in background.

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Title: New building at Exposition Park (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park lawn bowling (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park basketball game (n.d.).

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Title: Woman on wall surrounding the sunken rose gardens at Exposition Park (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park building (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park roses, looking toward Museum of Science & Industry (4 photos) (n.d.).

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Title: California State Building at Exposition Park, 1939.

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Title: Exposition Park swim stadium built for 1932 Olympics, 1939.

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Title: Exposition Park view looking north toward Mudd Hall at USC, 1939.

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Title: Exposition Park roses with USC's Mudd Hall in background (n.d.).

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Title: Three women in Exposition Park Rose Garden (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010082.jpg

Title: Exposition Park sunken rose garden (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010081.jpg

Title: Exposition Park roses (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010079.jpg

Title: Exposition Park outdoor seating area for stage, 1939.

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010052.jpg

Title: Swimming stadium, Exposition Park (1939).

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Title:  Wooden club house in dilapidated state at Exposition Park (n.d.).

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Title: Chinese American man at Exposition Park , 1940.

Description: Horn Moy in garden at Exposition Park, circa 1940.

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Title: Chinese American man at Exposition Park, c. 1940.

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics08/00003557.jpg

Title: Japanese American boys in Exposition Park, 1949.

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Title: Swimming pool and bath house at Exposition Park with fountain in foreground (n.d.).

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Title: Sepia tone Postcard of Exposition Park (n.d.).

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Title: Children at Exposition Park (n.d.).

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Title: Children at Exposition Park climbing and sliding down pole (n.d.).

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Title: Woman at Exposition Park at the fountain and near a sculpture (8 views) (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010043.jpg

Title: Children playing at Exposition Park ( 3 views) (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010063.jpg

Title: Children playing game similar to pool at Expositon Park (n.d.). [A reader writes to say the game is called caroms.]

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010059.jpg

Title: Exposition Park Bowling and Roque Clubhouse (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010076.jpg

Title: Exposition Park sunken rose gardens (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010075.jpg

Title: Exposition Park roses looking away from LA Co. Museum of Natural History and toward Museum of Sci & Ind. (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010077.jpg

Title: Exposition Park roses (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010074.jpg

Title: Exposition Park lawn bowling (2 views)(n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010064.jpg

Title: Exposition Park roses (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010062.jpg

Title: Exposition Park roses, looking east toward State Armory (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010061.jpg

Title: Exposition Park swings and wading pools (n.d.).

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Title: Coliseum at Exposition Park (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010058.jpg

Title: Exposition Park covered seating viewing structure (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010054.jpg

Title: Exposition Park playground (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010057.jpg

Title: Exposition Park sandbox (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010048.jpg

Title: Rose garden at Exposition Park (n.d.).

Description: Sunken gardens, also called Rose Garden, at Exposition Park, formerly called Agricultural Park, with State armory building. This photo shows a view of the entire garden from the State Armory to the museum in color.

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010046.jpg

Title: Tulips at Exposition Park (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park brick building with words “Los Angeles Own” on it (n.d.).

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Title: Exposition Park State Armory Building (n.d.).

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics01/00010018.jpg

Title: Natural History Museum at Exposition Park (n.d.).

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Title: Main facade, Los Angeles County Museum, [n.d.]

Description: Main facade, see from the Rose Garden, of the Los Angeles County Museum of History, Science and Art in Exposition Park. (It later became the L.A. County Museum of Natural History).

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics24/00031905.jpg

Photographer: Bob Plunkett

Title: Exterior of Los Angeles County Museum, [n.d.]

Description: Exterior of the Los Angeles County Museum of History, Science and Art in Exposition Park. (It later became the L.A. County Museum of Natural History).

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics04/00001537.jpg

Title: African American woman at Exposition Park, 1952.