Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Image not available
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 three houses with an automobile parked on Aliso Street near Old Chinatown in Los Angeles. A large tree shades two of the houses.
photCL 502 (13)
Visual Materials
View of Aliso Auto Wreckers & Parts Co. on Aliso Street near Old Chinatown, Los Angeles. Tires and rims are stacked along the front of building. Automobiles are parked in the street.
photCL 502 (16)
Visual Materials
View of a house, the entrance to a parking lot for Philippe's Sandwich Shop, and a brick building with a sign for the California Sack Co. on Aliso Street near Old Chinatown in Los Angeles, with automobiles parked in the street and to the side of the building.
photCL 502 (15)
Visual Materials
View of a Shell gasoline station with Aliso St. Garage and a sign advertising parking in the background, on Aliso Street near Old Chinatown, Los Angeles.
photCL 502 (11)
Visual Materials
View of a residence next to a brick building with vacant storefronts on Aliso Street near Old Chinatown, Los Angeles.
photCL 502 (12)
