View of Broadway looking north from Olympic Boulevard (then Tenth Street), circa 1929. The United Artists Theatre is visible on the left. In the distance behind it is future site of the Art Deco-style Eastern Columbia building, completed in 1930.

Part of the Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection in the USC Digital Library.

Circa 1925 view of Spring Street, looking south from Sunset Boulevard (now Cesar Chavez Avenue). New High Street branches off on the left.

Part of the Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection in the USC Digital Library.

Circa 1884 view of Pershing Square, looking south by southeast. In the foreground is St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, which occupies the present-day site of the Millenium Biltmore Hotel. St. Vincent’s College is visible in the right-center of the photo. 

Part of the Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection in the USC Digital Library.

Los Angeles City Hall construction site, 1926. Across Spring Street in the center of the photo is the County Hall of Records and, to its right, the red sandstone County Courthouse.

Part of the California Historical Society Collection in the USC Digital Library.

In 1904, the Isaias W. Hellman residence at Fourth and Main in downtown Los Angeles was moved to make way for the Farmers & Merchants Bank building. 

Part of the Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection in the USC Digital Library.

Circa 1910 view of Fifth Street in downtown Los Angeles, looking east from Olive Street. The edge of Central Park, since renamed Pershing Square, is visible on the right.

Part of the Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection in the USC Digital Library.

1939 view looking north at Second and Hill streets. In the distance, the Hill Street tunnels, demolished in 1949 to make way for the 101 freeway, bore through Bunker Hill. 

Part of the “Dick” Whittington Photography Collection in the USC Digital Library.

Circa 1917 view of Main Street, looking north from atop a building near Sixth Street.

Part of the TICOR/Pierce Collection in the USC Digital Library.

A horse-drawn fire engine speeds down Fifth Street at Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, circa 1900.

Part of the Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection in the USC Digital Library.

After a nearly fifty-year absence, electric trolleys will soon return to to downtown Los Angeles’ streets. From the USC Digital Library’s TICOR/Pierce Collection, here’s a ca. 1909 view of a streetcar rolling down Broadway between Fourth and Fifth streets.