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Hollywood Freeway Opens Through Civic Center - December 20, 1951

Los Angeles Examiner / USC Digital Archives

60 Years Ago: Hollywood Freeway Opened Through Civic Center

By Eric Richardson — December 20, 2011 — 3 Comments

On December 20, 1951, the first cars were driven through the "Downtown slot," the half-mile link connecting the Hollywood and Santa Ana freeways.

3 Photos

California Historical Society / USC Digital Archives

80 Years Ago: Three North Figueroa Tunnels Dedicated

By Eric Richardson — November 21, 2011 — 1 Comment

On November 21, 1931, more than 3000 people gathered in Elysian Park to dedicate three of the tunnels that thousands of Los Angeles drivers still pass through each day.

2 Photos

Dick Whittington Studio / USC Digital Archives

38 Years Ago: Broadway Department Store Moved Off Namesake Street

By Eric Richardson — November 16, 2011 — 3 Comments

On November 16, 1973, the doors to the Broadway Department Store were closed one final time at 4th and Broadway, the corner the store had inhabited since 1896.

California Historical Society / USC Digital Archives

If Courthouse is Built, What Next for Current Court on Spring?

By Eric Richardson — November 04, 2011 — 6 Comments

If a proposed $400-million federal courthouse at 1st and Broadway is built, what would become of the court's current 1939 home on Spring Street? It might be 2017 before the government knows.

L.A. Times / UCLA Digital Library

City Hall's Past Occupations

By Eric Richardson — October 21, 2011 — 1 Comment

The protesters of Occupy Los Angeles aren't the first to sleep on the lawn outside City Hall In 1984 and 1986, shelter tents in the shadow of the building were aimed at bringing attention to homelessness.

3 Photos

California Historical Society / USC Digital Archives

28 Years Old: Permit Issued to Tear Down Fire-Damaged Church

By Eric Richardson — October 19, 2011 — 4 Comments

On October 18, 1983, the fate of Historic Cultural Monument #15 was sealed when the city issued a permit for the demolition of the fire-damaged St. Joseph's Catholic Church at 12th and Los Angeles.

4 Photos

Eric Richardson / blogdowntown

Downtown's First "Moving Stairway" Installed in 1908

By Eric Richardson — October 17, 2011 — 2 Comments

Riding up from the Pershing Square subway station this evening, I got to wondering: What was Downtown's first escalator? Turns out it opened in 1908 inside the massive Hamburger Department Store.

L.A. TImes (Aug. 1, 1979)

The Colorful Protesters of Downtown's Past

By Eric Richardson — October 01, 2011 — 2 Comments

Several thousand protesters are expected to start an "occupation" of City Hall on Saturday, but they have a long way to go to match colorful protest characters like Eileen Anderson.

Metro Transportation Library and Archive

25 Years Ago: Metro Rail Groundbreaking Held

By Eric Richardson — September 29, 2011 — 3 Comments

On September 29, 1986, a crowd of 1,200 gathered to celebrate a ceremonial groundbreaking for Metro Rail, the system that 25 years later stretches nearly 80 miles.

84 Years Ago: "Double-Decker" 7th Street Viaduct Opened

By Eric Richardson — September 19, 2011 — 2 Comments

On September 19, 1927, the first vehicles made their way across the new Seventh Street Viaduct, a structure with a uniquely double-decker look.

California Mart (California Market Center) Plans

Victor Gruen Associates / USC Digital Archives

50 Years Ago: $50-Million Fashion Center Announced

By Eric Richardson — September 14, 2011 — 3 Comments

Fifty years ago today, a pair of underwear manufacturers announced their $50-million plan to create the complex today known as the California Market Center.