Mulholland/Scattergood Virtual Museum |
Featured Presentation Recently Expanded
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Construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct
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Welcome to the Mulholland/Scattergood Virtual Museum — one of the most comprehensive online collections documenting the history of Los Angeles. This free public resource presents more than 20,000 photographs, documents, maps, and historical records spanning the city's water and power infrastructure, neighborhoods, landmarks, transportation systems, and urban development from the 1780s to the present.Developed over more than two decades as part of the ongoing historical and public service work of Water and Power Associates, the museum combines rare archival images with historical notes and research to explore how Los Angeles evolved from a small Spanish pueblo into one of the world's great urban centers.Use the sections below to explore by topic — or continue down the page to browse the Los Angeles historical collections. |
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Zanja Madre - LA's Original Aqueduct Fred Eaton and William Mulholland Three Fathers of the LA Aqueduct |
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Special Interest |
Historical Collections |
Catherine Mulholland Collection Feather River Project Association |
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Los Angeles Historical Photos |
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The growth of Los Angeles cannot be separated from the streets, neighborhoods, and communities that shaped it. Water helped sustain the city; its people and places gave it character.The collections below explore Los Angeles through rare photographs, maps, and historical notes documenting places both familiar and long since transformed — the Plaza and surrounding barrios, hillsides that were cut down or tunneled through, streets that became major boulevards, and neighborhoods that changed as the city expanded.Browse by neighborhood, era, or landmark. Each section reveals another chapter in the story of Los Angeles. |
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Featured Presentation 1 Recently Expanded
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Early Los Angeles City Views (1800s)Explore the complete story of Los Angeles from its founding as a Spanish pueblo in 1781 through its transformation into a growing American city. Featuring rare photographs, panoramic views, maps, and detailed historical notes documenting the Plaza, the Zanja Madre, Main Street, civic landmarks, and the streets and neighborhoods that shaped one of the most remarkable urban stories in the American West.View Presentation → |
Featured Presentation 2 Recently Expanded
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Early Views of Catalina Island (1887–Present)Explore the complete story of Santa Catalina Island from its Tongva origins and Spanish discovery through the steamship era, Wrigley's transformation, the iconic Casino, wartime years, Hollywood visitors, and modern Avalon. Featuring dozens of rare photographs and detailed historical notes documenting one of Southern California's most beloved and storied destinations.View Presentation → |
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Newest Additions |
Bunker Hill was once home to some of Los Angeles' grandest Victorian-era residences before urban renewal reshaped it entirely. Discover its fascinating history in our newest section: Early Views of Bunker Hill (1930s to Present).
Poundcake Hill was the site of Los Angeles' first High School. It was also the location of several other prominent historical buildings over the years. Check out our newest section titled: Early Views of Poundcake Hill
How much has Los Angeles air quality improved since the 1940s? Find out in our Smog in Early Los Angeles Section.
Also, check out some of our more recent additions:
New Search Index |
A new SEARCH INDEX has been added to help navigate through the thousands of topics and images found in our Virtual Museum. Try it out to quickly locate topics and images throughout the museum.
Click HERE for Search Index |
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Virtual Museum Photos – Public Benefit & Fair Use Notice
The Water and Power Associates Virtual Museum presents a curated archive of early photographs of Los Angeles and surrounding areas, documenting the city’s infrastructure, transportation, and evolving urban landscape. This project exists solely for the purposes of education, preservation, and public scholarship.
Fair Use Statement:
In accordance with Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act (1976), we assert that the use of these materials qualifies as fair use for nonprofit educational purposes, including research, teaching, commentary, and historical preservation. No images are used for commercial purposes, and we do not sell prints or offer high-resolution downloads.
Attribution & Accuracy:
We strive to credit all sources when known. Where available, links to original sources are provided adjacent to image dates or at the bottom of each section. If you are a copyright holder and believe your image has been used without appropriate credit or permission, please contact us. We will gladly provide attribution or remove the image if necessary.
For Commercial Use:
If you wish to obtain a print or license an image for commercial purposes, we respectfully ask that you contact the original source listed beneath the photo, or refer to the hosting institution cited in the section references.
This digital museum is created in the spirit of public service and cultural stewardship. We welcome collaboration and correction as part of our shared commitment to historical accuracy.
Broken Source Links:
The Virtual Museum contains thousands of references to external libraries, archives, universities, museums, and historical collections. Because these organizations periodically update their websites and catalog systems, some links may become outdated over time.
If you encounter a broken or outdated source link, please contact us. We will be happy to assist in locating the current source, an updated link, or related reference whenever possible.
Email: jack.feldman51@gmail.com
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About This Museum
The Mulholland/Scattergood Virtual Museum is an ongoing historical research and preservation project of Water and Power Associates.
Since 2006, the collection has grown through the research, writing, image curation, and historical interpretation of Jack Feldman in collaboration with Water and Power Associates, with editorial assistance over time.
The museum's mission is to preserve and share the history of Los Angeles through photographs, maps, documents, and public scholarship.
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