Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
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Visual Materials
This collection contains 131 black-and-white photographs (including some duplicates) of views of building exteriors and streets scenes in Old Chinatown and neighboring residential and industrial areas of downtown Los Angeles, California, that were taken prior to the demolition of the area beginning on December 23, 1933, to make way for the Los Angeles Union Station railroad terminal. The photographs consist of eye-level street views focused on the area of downtown Los Angeles, around Apablasa Street (spelled Apalabasa or Apalabassa on the images), that was bordered by Alameda Street to the west, Aliso Street to the south, Date and College Streets to the north, and Lyon to the east. The views include images of industrial and commercial areas; retail storefronts; warehouses; manufacturing; utility and railroad buildings; houses and apartments with balconies; dirt streets and alleys; children; automobiles; and dilapidated and vacant buildings. The signage on retail buildings often reflects the Chinese and Hispanic heritage of residents and shop owners in the area. The photographer is unidentified, but presumably the photographs were created to aid in planning for the project, perhaps as part of the process of determining property valuation.
photCL 502
Visual Materials
View of the brick building housing Max Fischer & Sons, dealers in Wool, Cotton, Rags on Alameda Street, Los Angeles. There is a billboard next to the building featuring washing soap. Automobiles and pedestrians are outside the building.
photCL 502 (5)
Visual Materials
View of buildings backing up to a vacant dirt lot north of Apablasa Street and east of Alameda Street near Old Chinatown, Los Angeles. There is advertising on the wall of one of the buildings and billboards along a fence. Lumber is stacked in the lot.
photCL 502 (9)
Visual Materials
View of two-story brick buildings on Juan Street in Old Chinatown, Los Angeles. One building with a "For Rent" sign has broken windows. There appears to be a trunk sitting outside this building.
photCL 502 (127)
Visual Materials
Scale house in the Southern Pacific Railroad yard at Alameda Street and Macy Street in Los Angeles, with billboard, automobile, and train cars in the background. Area surrounding building is brick.
photCL 502 (1)
Visual Materials
View of the corner of Apablasa Street and Alameda Street in Old Chinatown, Los Angeles, with railroad crossing. Business signs advertising Gee Chop Suey and Joy Yuen Low restaurants on brick buildings facing each other. Automobiles are parked on the street.
photCL 502 (2)
