A big thank you to the institutions who make discovering the history of Los Angeles so much fun. Recommended websites for those interested in taking a historical deep dive include: The Huntington Digital Library, USC Libraries Digital Collections, and the Los Angeles Library Digital Photo Collection. The images appearing at random as the “header” of this website are courtesy of:
Online Archive of California, UCLA, Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts, “Landscape with a Large Tree,” attributed to Remigio Cantagallina, 1655
Los Angeles Public Library, Map Collection, “Cette carte de Californie et du Nouveau Mexique, est tiree de celle que a ete´ envoyee par un grand d’Espagne pour etre communiquee a Mrs. de l’Academie Royale des Sciences,” 1705
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Indian water carriers,” 1800
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Water carrier in early L.A.,” 1800
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “El Pueblo,” 1847
Los Angeles Public Library, Works Progress Administration Collection, “Pueblo of Los Angeles map, detail,” 1849
Los Angeles Public Library, Works Progress Administration Collection, “Pueblo of Los Angeles map, detail,” 1849
Los Angeles Public Library, Map Collection, “Plan de la ciudad de Los Angeles, surveyed & drawn by E.O.C. Ord, Lt. U.S.A. & Wm. R. Hutton, asst. August 29th, 1849,” by Edward Otho Cresap Ord, 1849
HathiTrust Digital Library, Getty Research Institute, “Life, adventures, and travels in California ; to which are added, Conquest of California ; and, Travels in Oregon / by T.J. Farnham,” by Nafis & Cornish, 1849
The Huntington Digital Library, “Indian map of Los Angeles before European settlement,” before 1850
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Artist’s sketch of Juan Domingo adobe residence,” circa 1850
The Huntington Digital Library, C.C. Pierce Collection of Photographs, “Model of Los Angeles Pueblo,” by Charles C. Pierce, ca. 1850
University of Southern California Digital Library, California Historical Society Collection, “A model of Sonora Town, the first plaza area in Los Angeles,” as it appeared in 1850
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Juan Ramirez residence,” circa 1857
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Sepulveda Adobe,” circa 1857
Los Angeles Public Library, Map Collection, “Kuchel & Dresel’s California Views; Los Angeles County, Cal.,” by Kuchel & Dresel, 1857
Los Angeles Public Library, Works Progress Administration Collection, “Map of Los Angeles, city limits,” 1857
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Bella Union Hotel exterior,” 1857
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Cactus hedge at Mission San Gabriel Arcangel,” 1860
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Aliso Street,” circa 1860
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “North Main Street,” 1860
The Huntington Digital Library, C.C. Pierce Collection of Photographs, “Los Angeles Mission and Plaza, before 1869.” by Charles C. Pierce, 1865
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Corner of Bella Union Hotel,” 1865
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Orchard on Main Street,” 1868
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Main Street,” 1868
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Main Street adobes,” 1868
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “La Plaza Church,” 1869
University of Southern California Digital Library, California Historical Society Collection, “Drawing of the Sainsevain Winery on Aliso Street, Los Angeles,” ca. 1870
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Wolfskill adobe near 3rd and Central Avenue,” circa 1870
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Mission Drive,” circa 1870
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Los Angeles in 1880,” circa 1870
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “North Main Street,” 1870
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Main Street near 3rd,” 1870
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Main Street south of 3rd,” 1870
HathiTrust Digital Library, Cornell University, “The modern El Dorado, or, The land of the setting sun : Embellished with numerous tinted lithographic illustrations,” by C. H. Clarke, 1870
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Aliso tree,” 1870
The Huntington Digital Library, C.C. Pierce Collection of Photographs, “Bella Union Hotel and Bank of Los Angeles (now Farmers and Merchants),” by Charles C. Pierce, approximately 1871
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Main St.–‘Hauptstrasse in Los Angeles,'” circa 1871
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “4th of July parade near Bella Union,” 1871
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “North Main St.,” 1871
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Broadway, north of 1st Street,” 1871
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Electric car,” 1873
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Main Street, south of La Plaza,” 1873
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “North Main St., looking south,” 1874
University of Southern California Digital Library, California Historical Society Collection, “Drawing by Edward Vischer depicting the “El Aliso Winery,” by photographer Edward Vischer, before 1875
Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles Herald Examiner Photo Collection, “Early Los Angeles,” circa 1875
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “3rd Street east,” 1875
The Claremont Colleges Digital Library, “Vignettes of the Californian Missions,” “El Aliso at Los Angeles, the Old Vignes Wine Establishment,” by Edward Vischer, 1876
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Main Street,” 1876
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Reservoir in Elysian Park,” 1876
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “California. A pleasure trip from Gotham to the Golden gate,” by Mrs. Leslie Frank, 1877
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Carriage ride in Elysian Park,” 1879
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Zanja water in Pershing Square,” circa 1880
Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles Photographers Collection, “Early Los Angeles panorama,” by Charles C. Pierce, circa 1880
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Early adobe hacienda in San Gabriel,” circa 1880
The Huntington Digital Library, Carleton E. Watkins Photograph Collection, “Banana trees at Wolfskill’s, Los Angeles,” by Carleton E. Watkins, 1880 – 1887
The Library of Congress, Detroit Publishing Company photograph collection, “Old Mission Church, Los Angeles, California,” by Detroit Publishing Co., between 1880 and 1899
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Wolfskill Ranch, Lithograph,” 1880
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Main Street,” 1880
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “William Wolfskill adobe, side view,” circa 188-
The Library of Congress, Chronicling America, The Los Angeles Herald, Friday, August 19, 1881
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Man with hat gazing at the La Plaza,” 1882
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “Beauties of California. Copyright 1883, by N. W. Griswold. Including big trees. Yosemite Valley, geysers, Lake Tahoe, Donner Lake. S. F. ’49 & ’83,” by H. S. Crocker & Co., 1883
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Main south from Plaza,” 1883
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “View of the Plaza from a hill,” circa 1885
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Railway gets laid,” 1885
Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles Photographers Collection, “Main and 4th streets,” by Charles C. Pierce, 1886
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Biking across town,” 1886
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “S. C. Spier and his bicycle,” 1886
Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles Photographers Collection, “First electric car,” by Charles C. Pierce, circa 1886
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “William Wolfskill adobe and garden arbor,” 1886
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Electric R. R.,” circa 1887
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Los Angeles panorama,” 1887
The Huntington Digital Library, C. C. Pierce Collection of Photographs, “L. A. Bicycle Club Members, fiesta 1887,” by Charles C. Pierce, 1887
The Library of Congress, Chronicling America, The Los Angeles Evening Express, Saturday, December 31, 1887
The Library of Congress, Chronicling America, The Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, January 1, 1888
The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, “Los Angeles, Cal. / S.F. Cook del. ; lith. Britton & Rey, S.F.,” c. 1888
HathiTrust Digital Library, Getty Research Institute, “Pacific coast album,” by Charles Peter Heininger, 1888
Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles Photographers Collection, “Drawing of 2nd Street, Los Angeles,” by Charles C. Pierce, 1888
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Map of Zanja Madre,” 1888
The Huntington Digital Library, Native American Photograph Collections Cataloging and Digitization Project, “Street view of Old Chinatown, by W. H. Fletcher, 1888
The Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “A street in Chinatown, Los Angeles,” by Detroit Photographic Co., between 1898 and 1905
The Library of Congress, Prints and Photograhs Divison, “East Side Park, Los Angeles,” by Detroit Photographic Co., between 1898 and 1905
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “To the golden land. Sketches of a trip to southern California. Illustrated,” by Samuel Storey, 1889
Huntington Digital Library, Ernest Marquez Collection, “Main St. Los Angeles looking north from near 2nd Street,” 1889
Huntington Digital Library, Ernest Marquez Collection, “California Vintage, Los Angeles,” by A. D. Marchand, approx 189-?
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Maier & Zobelein’s Brewery,” circa 1900
Huntington Digital Library, Huntington Rare Book Maps, “Official map of the City of Los Angeles, California.” by Oliver & Haines, Mutual Label & Lithographic Co., 1890 – 1900
Huntington Digital Library, Ernest Marquez Collection, “I. P. Fisher speaking at Eastlake Park,” by George Washington Hazard, approx 1890 – 1908
Huntington Digital Library, Ernest Marquez Collection, “Judge A. J. King,” by George Washington Hazard, approx 1890 – 1908
Huntington Digital Library, Ernest Marquez Collection, “Wolfskill home at 4th and 5th and Alameda Streets, Los Angeles,” by George Washington Hazard, approx 1890 – 1908
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Looking southeast from near 3rd and Spring,” 1890
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Bicycle group,” 1890
HathiTrust Digital Library, Google, “Rural Californian. v. 13 no. 01 – 08 mo. JAN – AUG.,” 1890
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “The American Italy: (Our Italy),” by Charles Dudley Warner, 1891
HathiTrust Digital Library, Harvard University, “California illustrated: including a trip through Yellowstone Park / edited by F. K. Warren; with numerous wood engravings by the best artists,” by Fiske De Wolfe, 1892
The Library of Congress, Chronicling America, The Los Angeles Herald, July 3, 1892
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “San Pedro, a drawing,” 1893
The Library of Congress, Chronicling America, The Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, August 13, 1893
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Early view of Echo Park Lake,” circa 1894
The Huntington Digital Library, Native American Photograph Collections Cataloging and Digitization Project, “View in Elysian Park, Los Angeles, Cal.,” by W. H. Fletcher, 1894
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Orange grove, Wolfskill Ranch,” circa 1895
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “Souvenir, Company A, Seventh Regiment of Infantry, First Brigade,” Commercial Printing House, 1897
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “First Automobile in Los Angeles,” 1897
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Scene in Echo Park,” 1897
The Huntington Digital Library, Jay T. Last Collection, The Times Los Angeles Fiesta Number Los Angeles, April 25, 1897,” by Will E. Chapin, printed by The Los Angeles Times, 1897
The Huntington Digital Library, Jay T. Last Collection, La Fiesta de Los Angeles April 20-24 1897, by M. E. Curran, 1897
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “Souvenir, Company A, Seventh Regiment of Infantry, First Brigade, N. G. C., Los Angeles, California, by Commercial Printing House, 1897
HathiTrust Digital Library, New York Public Library, “Souvenir Company C, Seventh Regiment of Infantry, 1st Brigade, N. G. C.: program, opening week, New Armory Building,” February 6 – 12, 1898
The Library of Congress, Chronicling America, The Los Angeles Evening Express, Thursday, December 15, 1898
The Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Chinese pharmacy, Los Angeles, California,” by Detroit Photographic Co., 1899
Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection, “Brewery Workers,” circa 1900
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Washing clothes at the Zanja Madre,” circa 1900
HathiTrust Digital Library, Library of Congress, “Mt Lowe, 6100 feet altitude,” by Pacific Electric Railway Company, between 1900 and 1905
Ella Strong Denison Library; Claremont Colleges Digital Library, Bessie Bartlett Frankel Collection, “Postcard, Wind Blown Sentinel,” by Arthur C. Pillsbury, 1900 – 1920
HathiTrust DIgital Library, University of California, Mount Lowe, by Pacific Electric Railway Co., 1900
HathiTrust Digital Library, Google, “Vistas de Los Angeles. Compliments of Hotel Nadeau, Los Angeles, Cal,” by Press of G. Rice, 1901
The Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Bird’s eye view of Los Angeles taken from balloon, height 1500 ft.,” by J. W. Austin, 1902
HathiTrust Digital Library, Library of Congress, “Los Angeles as a summer resort,” by Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, 1902
HathiTrust Digital Library, Getty Research Institute, “Catalogue of the first Los Angeles Photographic Salon: at the Los Angeles Camera Club, May 1st to 10th, 1902,” by A. S. C. Forbes, 1902
HathiTrust Digital Library, Library of Congress, “A trip to California : [a series of fine western pictures from original photographs in Colorado, Utah, California, the Pacific coast, Yellowstone national park,” by William Baylis, 1903
HathiTrust Digital Library, Library of Congress, “Souvenir of Los Angeles,” by Freemasons, 1904
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “The Chicago of the Southwest, written for the Los Angeles Chamber of commerce,” by Harry Ellington Brook, 1904
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “Scenic Mount Lowe and its wonderful railway ‘ by George Wharton James,” Pacific Electric Railway, 1905
The Huntington Digital Library, C.C. Pierce Collection of Photographs, “Angels Flight, N. Broadway, Los Angeles,” by Charles C. Pierce, 1907
The Library of Congress, Georgraphy and Map Division,, “Los Angeles, Cal.,” by Birdseye View Publishing Co., 1909
The Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, “Picnicing in Sycamore Grove, Los Angeles, Calif., Feb. 12, 1910 you don’t see any overcoats or snow shoes here,” 1910
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Aviation Week postcard,” by the Dominguez Field Air Meet, 1910
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Greetings from–Aviation Week,” by the Dominguez Field Air Meet, 1910
HathiTrust Digital Library, “Los Angeles, the old and the new;” by Los Angeles Times Mirror ptg. & bdg. house, 1911
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “A Souvenir of delightful journeys,” by the Passenger Department of the Salt Lake Route ; H.C. Nutt, General Manager ; F.A. Wann, General Traffic Manager ; T.C. Peck, Gen. Passenger Agt., 1912
Los Angeles Public Library, Map Collection, “Lines of the Electric Railway in Southern California, 1912,” by D. W. Pontius, 1912
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “Los Angeles, the city,” by Harry Ellington Brook, issued by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, 1913
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “Staley’s views of Los Angeles,” by Frank W. Staley, 1914
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “Spanish and Indian place names of California, their meaning and their romance,” by Nellie van de Grift Sanchez, 1914
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “Wonderful California,” by C. T. & Co., 1915
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of Michigan, “California Welcomes You,” by the Union Pacific Railroad Company, published by the Poole Bros., 1915
HathiTrust Digital Library, “Sixty years in Southern California, 1853-1913, containing the reminiscences of Harris Newmark, edited by Maurice H. Newmark [and] Marco R. Newmark … with 150 illustrations,” by Harris Newmark, 1916
HathiTrust Digital Library, Library of Congress, “The story of Mount Lowe,” by Pacific Electric Railway Company, printed by Neuner Co., 1918
Yale University, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, “Los Angeles, out where the West begins,” by Los Angeles Realty Board, 1920
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “Wonderful California,” published by Cardinell – Vincent Co., 1922
The Library of Congress, Chronicling America, The Los Angeles Times, Sunday, January 14, 1923
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of California, “Southern California, the land of sunshine and flowers,” by S. H. Kress & Co., ca. 1923
HathiTrust Digital Library, “Los Angeles to-day, July 1924,” by Neuner Co., 1924
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Maier Brewing Co., aerial view,” 1924
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of Michigan, “Los Angeles county, California,” by Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, 1928
HathiTrust Digital Library, Harvard University, “Los Angeles, ‘the magic city’; a vest pocket booklet of economic statistics of Los Angeles City of county, compiled by the Research dept.,” by Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, 1930
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Trees in Elysian Park,” 1950
Los Angeles Public Library, L. Mildred Harris Slide Collection, “Sunset, Civic Center,” by L. Mildred Harris, 1950
Los Angeles Public Library, Housing Authority Collection, “Los Angeles aerial view,” by Spence Air Photos, 1959
Los Angeles Public Library, Herald Examiner Collection, “Los Angeles brewer toasts to new beer,” 1960
HathiTrust Digital Library, University of Wisconsin – Madison, “California’s Gabrielino Indians,” by Bernice Johnston, 1962
Newspapers.com, The Los Angeles Times, “A Sycamore Deeply Rooted in City’s Past,” by Cecilia Rasmussen, September 8, 2002
The Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, “Los Angeles, Cal., population of city and environs 65,000.,” no date
The Huntington Digital Library, Ernest Marquez Collection, “Main St. Los Angeles looking north from near 2nd Street.,” no date
The Huntington Digital Library, C.C. Pierce Collection of Photographs, “Los Angeles, Elysian Park,” by Charles C. Pierce, no date
The Huntington Digital Library, C.C. Pierce Collection of Photographs, “A view looking over Elysian Park,” by Charles C. Pierce, no date
The Huntington Digital Library, C.C. Pierce Collection of Photographs, “Early water wheel for irrigation, Los Angeles,” by Charles C. Pierce, no date
The Huntington Digital Library, C.C. Pierce Collection of Photographs, “Colonel John C. Fremont as he looked on his first trip across the continent,” by Charles C. Pierce, no date
Huntington Digital Library, Ernest Marquez Collection, “Pacific Electric Railway streetcar on Aliso Street, Los Angeles,” no date
Huntington Digital Library, Ernest Marquez Collection, “Woman driving horse-drawn carriage on dirt road with oil wells in view, Los Angeles, California,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Witch Tree, Monterey, Calif.,” by Detroit Publishing Co., no date
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Rancho Los Alisos,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Waves of the Pacific,” by Edward H. Mitchell, no date
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Cypress tree Seventeen Mile Drive, Monterey County,” by Cardinell-Vincent Co., no date
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Ostrich tree Seventeen Mile Drive, Monterey County,” by Edward H. Mitchell, no date
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Flowers in Elysian Park,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Scenic Road in Elysian Park,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Typical orange grove,” by Dick Whittington, no date
Los Angeles Public Library, DWP Photo Collection, “Interior of Zanja Madre uncovered during wrecking of first Department of Water and Power building,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, DWP Photo Collection, “First electric light plant in Los Angeles,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, DWP Photo Collection, “Sketch of first stone reservoir in Los Angeles – Zanja Madre,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, DWP Photo Collection, “An Indian woman with an earthen jar balanced upon her head constituted the original water distributing system in the pueblo of Los Angeles,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, DWP Photo Collection, “Drawing of aerial view of Los Angeles Harbor,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, DWP Photo Collection, “View of zanja – The 11 families who founded El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles constructed the city’s first water system, a brush toma or dam across the river,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Palm trees in Elysian Park,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Los Angeles Brewery Co.,” no date
Los Angeles Public Library, Security Pacific National Bank Collection, “Montecito grapevine,” by Edward Vischer, no date
Aliso Tree — Los Angeles, rooted in history. 