Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your tax-deductible donation now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Video Shows A Leisurely Drive Through Bunker Hill In The 1940s
This video of a pleasant drive on a sunny day in 1940s Downtown L.A. and Bunker Hill is proof that the now skyscraper-laden area was once a relatively peaceful neighborhood.
The silent, yet captivating video takes us through a microcosm of early Los Angeles life, travelling past mom-and-pop auto repair shops, proud Victorian homes sandwiched between tall buildings. At some parts of the video, City Hall can be seen looming in the background, a reminder that it once was the tallest building in Los Angeles.