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 a building made of brick with four large windows and a covered entrance on North Alameda Street, Los Angeles. There is a fence surrounding the building. Train tracks run alongside the fence and a variety of trees are both outside and inside the fence.
photCL 502 (6)
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 brick buildings lining Napier Street in Old Chinatown, Los Angeles, with automobiles and pedestrians. The Los Angeles Hall of Justice is visible in the background.
photCL 502 (61)
Visual Materials
View of brick one-story buildings lining Napier Street in Old Chinatown, Los Angeles, with automobiles and pedestrians. The Los Angeles Hall of Justice is visible in the background.
photCL 502 (77)
Visual Materials
View of businesses along Alameda Street near Old Chinatown in Los Angeles, with an automobile and pedestrians. Storefront signs for a printing business, El Nayarit restaurant, the Hotel Espanol, and market with an awning sign for T. Fukumoto.
photCL 502 (76)
