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An original 2.5x4.5" antique photo (NOT a modern reprint) from the estate of a family that lived in the Los Angeles area during the 1920s. This is likely a one of a kind photo.
Photo Overview
A charming snapshot taken from a boat shows the Los Angeles Harbor Light (also known as the Angel\'s Gate Lighthouse) standing on its rocky breakwater jetty at the entrance to San Pedro Bay, Long Beach, California. Photographed in 1926, the distinctive white cylindrical tower with its skeletal upper section rises above the calm Pacific waters, with gentle waves visible in the foreground. The photo measures 2.5x4.5 inches and comes from the estate of a Los Angeles-area family, making it a one-of-a-kind personal snapshot of this iconic Southern California landmark.
This intimate, water-level perspective - clearly taken from a passing vessel - captures the lighthouse exactly as mariners and local boaters would have experienced it during the Roaring Twenties, a period of explosive growth for the Los Angeles harbor region.
Historical Notes
The Los Angeles Harbor Light (Angel\'s Gate) was completed in 1913 and stood at the end of the San Pedro Breakwater at the entrance to Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor. By the time this photo was taken in 1926, the Port of Los Angeles was rapidly expanding into one of the busiest ports on the West Coast, fueled in large part by the Southern California oil boom and the region\'s explosive population growth in the 1920s. The lighthouse guided countless vessels into the harbor during this transformative era. The tower still stands today and was designated a California Historical Landmark, though it has been automated since 1973. The breakwater itself was later extended significantly as harbor operations grew. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, recognizing its enduring importance to maritime navigation along the Southern California coast.
Print analysis
This is a small-format (2.5x4.5 inch) silver gelatin snapshot print consistent with amateur photography of the mid-1920s. The paper stock, tonal range, and slight fading are all consistent with a print made at or very near the time the photograph was taken (1926). This is assessed as a Type 1 original print, developed within a year or two of the image being captured.
Condition
Fair to good antique condition. Please see photos for exact condition details.
