Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189 Public Domain. Release under the CC BY Attribution license--http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/--Credit both “University of Southern California. Libraries” and “California Historical Society” as the source. Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library; From the California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California Send requests to address or e-mail given USC Libraries Special Collections specol@usc.edu
Description
Photograph of Main Street looking north-east from a point near Commercial Street, showing the Grand Central Hotel, Los Angeles, 1888 The dirt lanes of Main Street run diagonally through the image from the lower right to the left background, dotted by horse-drawn carriages and trolley cars. The street is bordered on both sides by parked carriages and two- to three-story commercial buildings, which are constructed primarily in the Second Empire style of architecture. Men and women stand along the sidewalks that edge each side of the street. The elaborate structure of the Grand Central Hotel sits at the center of the image. Legible signs, from left to right, include: "Southern California Insurance Company", "Santa Fe Route", "[Furn]iture, Carpets, Paper, Bedd[ing]", "Saratoga Restaurant", "Grand Central Hotel", and "St. Charle[s]". Additional information: Identifiable structures include, from left to right: 1) St Elmo Hotel (1856-1937). It was built as the Lafayette Hotel, set back 40 feet from Main Street. In 1873, it was extended eastward to align with the building line of adjacent buildings on Main Street. It later became the Cosmopolitan and then the St. Elmo Hotel. 2) Pico House (built in 1869-70) -- just visible behind pole. Renamed the National Hotel in May 8, 1892, and retained that name until at least 1906. 3) Merced Theater (built in 1870) -- barely visible behind the pole. 4) Baker Block (1877-1942). 5) Grand Central Hotel (1874-1957) -- built as the Perry-Riley Building. Second and third floors initially occupied by the Backman House. With new management in 1875, it was renamed the Central Hotel, then Grand Central Hotel in 1876. 6) St. Charles Hotel (built circa 1853, demolished in 1940). It began in 1849 as the one-story Bella Union Hotel. The second floor was added in 1851 and the third in 1869. It was renamed the Clarendon Hotel in 1873, then renamed again as the St. Charles in 1875.
Type
image
Format
1 photograph : photonegative, b&w 21 x 26 cm. negatives (photographic) photographs
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