Melrose and Fairfax Avenues

Aerial View of Melrose and Fairfax Avenues
United States
United States › California › Los Angeles
1922

This aerial photograph from 1922 looks northwest toward the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Fairfax Avenue, visible near the lower right of the image in Los Angeles.

At the time, much of the surrounding land was still open farmland, with only small clusters of houses beginning to appear. The road network is clearly visible cutting across wide agricultural fields, illustrating how the area was in the early stages of suburban development.

Beyond the growing settlement, the Santa Monica Mountains rise in the background, framing what would later become one of the most densely populated urban areas in the region.

Images like this provide a striking reminder of how dramatically Los Angeles expanded during the twentieth century, transforming vast agricultural landscapes into the sprawling metropolis known today.

Source: Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL). 📷