Touring DTLA

Despite a serious need to relax more during our well-earned retirement, we managed to squeeze in not one but two tours of places in downtown L.A. last Friday. The first was the L.A. Streetlight Museum, located in the city's Public Works building. Open for only 30 minutes a month, the museum is managed by the Bureau of Street Lighting, which decided two years ago to share and celebrate some of the most beautiful lamps that have illuminated—and still light—Los Angeles since the late 1800s. It was a short but fascinating visit.

Lamps from the late 1800s, plus an old switch box

Early 20th century lamps

 

 The lamps (on concrete pedestals) that 
we grew-up with—and still love—
when we were kids


1930s lamps


1950s beauties

 
1940s


Specialty lamps for UCLA (left) and Chinatown (right)


Still lighting DTLA (see below)

After a quick nap back home, we took the lightrail back to DTLA for a "Modern by Moonlight" tour offered by the L.A. Conservancy. Starting at the Central Library before sunset, we ventured north and west only a handful of blocks over the next two hours. The views were, of course, magnificent. We do love our city . . .

 

Bonaventure Hotel before sunset

U.S. Bank building (formerly aka "The Library

Tower") with the real library in the foreground

Wonderful old lamps we saw at the

Streetlight Museum with the new Wilshire

Grand in the background

Across the street from the library

The most beautiful building downtown: Los Angeles

Public Library

Tallest building in L.A.: Wilshire Grand 

pointing skyward

Looking south down Flower from the Bonaventure