Transportation in and around West Adams over the Years
Links to the Photo Database of the Los Angeles Public Library
Transportation is central to how we live and work. It has changed dramatically over the last century. Here are links to 59 photos in the Library collection, ranging from a horse and buggy on Adams Blvd. or a hay wagon on Figueroa in the 1890s, to our city's long-gone electric railway system and the now-quaint looking cars of the 1920s and 1930s. We have interpreted this category broadly and included a pony ride, motorcycles, and many snapshots taken on lawns and of buildings where automobiles are an unremarked background, their models changing with the decades. The photos are in roughly chronological order.
Click on thumbnail or on link to see photo
Return to beginning of Photo Collection
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Title: First electric car in L.A., 1886
Description: View of the first electric car in Los Angeles, the G.O.P. line out Pico to Hoover Street, 1886. This photograph has been made into a postcard.
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Title: First trolley in Los Angeles, Pico St. and Maple Avenue, 1887
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Title: University Division electric car (n.d.)
Description: Early Los Angeles electric car running from Fourth and Broadway along Washington to Agricultural Park (later Exposition Park), in University Division.
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Title: Hay load at Pico just west of Figueroa (c. 1890)
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Title: Pacific Electric Railway car #13, Central Ave. and 56th Street, 1893
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Title: Horse & Buggy on West Adams, viewed from Figueroa St. (n.d. [probably 1890s])
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Title: Figueroa and Washington Blvd. Bicyclist (n.d. [probably 1890s])
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Title: First Automobile in Los Angeles
Description: First automobile in Los Angeles, built by J. Philip Erie, the driver, a resident of Los Angeles at the time. Los Angeles Mayor William H. Workman is in the rear seat, 1897.
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Title: Parade on Figueroa (n.d.)
Description: A parade of decorated horse conveyances on Figueroa Street possibly near 11th Street.
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Title: Slauson Tower Pacific Electric car station (n.d.)
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Title: Compton electric car station (n.d.)
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Title: Compton Pacific Electric station decorated with flags for July 4, 1902
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Title: Parade on Main & 20th, 1906
Description: People in costume and horses and wagons decorated with flowers for a parade circa 1906 are located on Main Street south of 20th Street.
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Title: Cars at 12th and Main, Los Angeles, ca. 1907
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Title: Chinese American woman, USC graduate, 1909, in automobile
Description: Dr. Margaret J. Chung poses in open-air automobile in photographer's studio. Caption reads "Want a ride?" She was the first Chinese American physician in Southern California, a graduate of the University of Southern California.
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Title: Figueroa and Washington in 1914
Description: Electric car tracks and overhead wires are seen running down Figueroa Street at Washington Boulevard in 1914.
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Title: Afro-Americans next to car in Watts, 1916
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Title: Watts line Pacific Electric car (n.d. [the Watts line began service in 1907, but the date of this photo and the next one are unknown. ])
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Title: Watts Pacific Electric car (n.d.)
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Title: Figueroa St. at Venice Blvd. in 1920s.
Description: Figueroa Street at the intersection of Venice Boulevard circa the 1920s. Manchester Apartments are seen, as well as Rickenbacker's.
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Title: 1920 car in Westlake Park, ca early 1920s
Description: The note on the back of this photograph identifies this 1920 vehicle as electric with a Mrs. Cruthridge driving it at Westlake Park which has had a name change to MacArthur Park in honor of an American war hero, General MacArthur.
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Title: 34th and Hill, 1920s
Description: Williamson Welding Works, automobile repairs to the starter. 3415 S. Hill Street
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Title: Car and 3 people at Darby Hotel, W. Adams & Flower Sts. (now Grace Apts.) (n.d.)
Description: Standing behind the car is Ray I. Matthews. In the car is Charles Blodgett & 1 other person. They are in front of the Darby Hotel, built by Blodgett, a black contractor. Presently this building is known as the Grace Apartments.
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Title: Figueroa & Santa Barbara Sts. (n.d.)
Description: Figueroa Street looking south to Santa Barbara Avenue (later Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard), with the Coliseum Hotel and National Automotive School on the left and the Figueroa Theater on the right.
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Title: Los Angeles electric car on the H line to Jefferson & Maple
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Title: Electric car to Adams & Alsace (n.d.)
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Title: Exterior, Boulevard Theater, 1619 W. Washington Blvd., 1925
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Title: Ralph Bunche and friends on car, ca 1925
Description: Ralph Bunche (at right) and friends sitting on running board of car, circa 1925.
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Title: African American women friends of Ralph Bunche, 37th Street, ca 1926
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Title: Figueroa St. looking northwest towards West Adams Blvd. 1926
Description: Figueroa Street looking northwest toward West Adams Boulevard. On the left is the Automobile Club of Southern California and St. Vincent's Catholic Church.
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Title: 36th St. and South Western Avenue during flood, April 7, 1926
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Title: Jule L. Deckard's auto repair business, 2322 S. Central Avenue, 1927.
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Title: Dunbar Hotel, Central Avenue, 1928
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Title: African American man named Ronald sitting on car playing banjo, 21st Street, 1929
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Title: Cows graze on Slauson at Central (c. 1930)
Description: Cows graze peacefully under the palm trees next to the J.A. Nadeau Ford dealership on Slauson at Central Avenues. 1100 E. Slauson Blvd.
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Title: Western Avenue looking north from Adams Blvd., 1930
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Title: African American women sitting on car, 21st Street, ca 1930
Description: African American women sitting on car. Florence Brantley (at left) and a friend named Rita.
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Title: Traffic signal at intersection of Figueroa and Adams Blvd., 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/pics08/00013929.jpg
Title: Greer-Robbins Chrysler used car dealer at Figueroa/12th St. (c. 1930s)
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Title: Exterior view of Mesa Theater, 5807 Angeles Mesa Dr. (now Crenshaw), c. 1937. [A reader questions the Library's date: "One of the cars appears to be an early 1940s Chevrolet and another an early 1940s Chrysler Corp. product."]
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Title: Shrine Auditorium social event (n.d.)
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Title: Exterior view of the Olympic Auditorium, 1801 S. Grand Ave., 1938
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Title: The Spot, 41st and Central, 1940
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Title: African American children at 1498 W. 35th Place, 1941
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Title: African American boy on tricycle on West 36th Place, 1944
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Title: Cars on W. 36th Place, 1944
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Title: African American family, Central Ave. & 21st St., 1945
Description: The Lee family in front yard of home near Central Avenue and 21st Street. L to R, front row Emma Louise, Paul, Peggy, Leroy, Jr., Leilani (back row), Leroy, Sr., Naomi, Antonia, Vivian, Morris, Joan.
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Title: African American auto repair shop (Henry Jones Auto Service), 1277 W. Jefferson, 1947
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Title: Korean American man on motorcycle, 1948, 1549 W. 23rd St.
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Title: Vermont Avenue near Manchester stores, 1950
Description: Part 3 of 3. Panoramic view of Vermont Avenue near Manchester showing shops and stores, including Cytron's Shoes (Pt.2). Area was later destroyed in the Watts Riot (1965). Photo from Jewish collection.
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Title: Mexican American woman and son on car at 53rd & Grand, 1950
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Title: Mexican American boys next to car, 1952
Description: Fredie Martel (left) and Jesse De la Rosa, 1954. 53rd Street, Los Angeles. [Library captions are inconsistent on the date. The car is a 1950 Ford.]
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics08/00003833.jpg
Title: Filipino American family and friends near Jefferson & Normandie, 1953
Description: Filipino American family and friends, L to R Sam Reyes, Carmen Quinones, Kathy De la Rosa, Mrs. Quinones, Bonnie Quinones, Tim Reyes, Ronnie Behasa (son of former Pilipino Consul General in L.A.). Photo taken near Jefferson and Normandie.
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Title: Children on pony ride near Crenshaw & Exposition, 1954
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015268.jpg
Title: South wall of the Carlton Theater, 5411 S. Western (n.d.) [A reader points out that the car in the foreground is a 1964 Plymouth and one of the cars in the background is a 1961 Chevrolet]
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics17/00008307.jpg
Title: Santa Monica Freeway near Vermont Avenue, 1967
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Photographer: Plukas, V. R.
Title: Roger Young Center's Tabard Inn exterior, at 936 Washington (1978)
