Browse Items (1107 total)

D. W. Griffith directs a Western on horseback

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D. W. Griffith directed the Western "Crossing the American Prairies in the Early Fifties" in Lower Topanga. He spoke through a megaphone from the saddle of a cream-colored horse. He included 200 cowboys from nearby ranches, 50 women and children, 120…

Western actors play Native Americans and settlers

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D. W. Griffith directed the Western "Crossing the American Prairies in the Early Fifties" in Lower Topanga. He spoke through a megaphone from the saddle of a cream-colored horse. He included 200 cowboys from nearby ranches, 50 women and children, 120…

Western actors with rifles and wagons play settlers

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D. W. Griffith directed the Western "Crossing the American Prairies in the Early Fifties" in Lower Topanga. He spoke through a megaphone from the saddle of a cream-colored horse. He included 200 cowboys from nearby ranches, 50 women and children, 120…

Native-American skulls discovered in Lower Topanga

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William Wills Coolbaugh discovered the bones of Native Americans in a mound in Lower Topanga. At least one of the skulls had an arrowhead embedded in it. Others were crushed. A Stanford Archaeology class came to assist, and conjectured that the…

William Wills Coolbaugh holds a Native-American skull

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William Wills Coolbaugh holds a Native-American skull that he dug out of a mound in Lower Topanga.

Native-American artifacts discovered in Lower Topanga

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William Wills Coolbaugh discovered these Native-American artifacts in a mound in Lower Topanga. In addition to arrowheads, spearheads, necklaces, and skulls, they include an "idol" statue, made of polished bone, on which “The eyes and nose of the…

E. Roger Stearns fishes in Topanga Creek from his car

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Car salesman E. Roger Stearns made a publicity stunt out of fishing in Topanga Creek from the seat of his red Velie,

Rock riprap along Topanga Creek, near PCH

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Boulders were placed as rock riprap along the right bank of Topanga Creek, 600 feet upstream from Pacific Coast Highway.

Bridge over Topanga Creek, at the bottom of the S-Turns

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A man walks on the bridge over Topanga Creek, at the bottom of the S-Turns, where the water-level gauging station was.

Close-up of cable car used to measure Topanga Creek

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A cable car was used to gauge the water level of Topanga Creek at the bottom of the S-Turns.

A cable car was used to measure Topanga Creek

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A cable car was used to gauge the water level of Topanga Creek at the bottom of the S-Turns.

A swimming hole in Topanga Creek, near Camp Wildwood

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The Greenleaf family stands beside a natural swimming hole in Topanga Creek, north of Camp Wildwood.

Barn owl

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A barn owl sleeps in a tree on Koontz Way.

Heidi Staun and her children at their Topangster Ranch

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Heidi Staun and her children sit on a Landrover at their Topangster Ranch in Old Topanga Canyon.

BACK ROW:
Noble Staun , Heidi Staun, Sage Staun
FRONT ROW:
Evita Staun, Beau Staun, Soleil Staun

The last residents of the Rodeo Grounds gather at a party

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The last residents of the Rodeo Grounds gather on a couch at James Mathers's party.

BACK ROW: Christof Marquardsen, Michele Capra, Bernt Capra, Jean-Louis Bartoli, Kendall Perkins ("Lyf"), Robin Paz ("Lunch Lady").

FRONT ROW: Daisy Duck…

The last residents of the Rodeo Grounds gather at a party

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The last residents of the Rodeo Grounds gather on a couch at James Mathers's party.

BACK ROW: Michele Capra, Calvin Lunsford, Farengis Danesh, Kendall Perkins ("Lyf"), Robin Paz ("Lunch Lady"), Sam Rollins.

FRONT ROW: Daisy Duck McCrackin,…

The boat house ("Mother S’hippo") at Topangster Ranch

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Heidi Staun and her children built the boat house ("Mother S’hippo") at Topangster Ranch around their mobile home after a fire burned their house in Old Topanga Canyon.

An outdoor bed at Topangster Ranch

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Three dogs guard an outdoor bed ("Mountain Bed") at Topangster Ranch in Old Topanga Canyon.

T. H. Webster painting, "Topango Canyon," 1934

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This watercolor painting shows Marmont Studio, the home of painter Laura Way Mathiesen at Brookside. It burned in the 1938 fire.

Topanga Bombers reunion T-shirt, 1991

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Topanga Bomber Jim Fitzpatrick commissioned skateboard artist Sean Cliver to design this reunion T-shirt in 1991. It was printed at Powell-Peralta Skateboards.

Fitzpatrick asked Cliver to modify the logo of the Santa Cruz Surfers Union by adding a…

Woody Woodward's Skateboarding Hall of Fame T-shirt

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Woody Woodward skates on a T-shirt created by Logan Earth Ski to commemorate his induction into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2013.

Woody Woodward rides his new Hobie surfboard

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Woody Woodward rides a wave on his first new surfboard, from Hobie.

Jerry Cibilich sculpture, "Crystal Radio Antenna," 1991

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Jerry Lee Cibilich (1957-2011) worked as a California lifeguard in the summer, and studied art in Italy in the winter under famous artists like Marco Gastini and Mario Merz. The ocean, found its way into his work through the use of salt, waves of all…

Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica map, 1840s

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This Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica map from the 1840s (specifically a diseño: a rough map required to accompany Spanish and Mexican land grant petitions), shows perhaps the earliest depiction of Topanga Canyon.

Unknown artist painting, "Jack Rabbit Lodge," early 1900s

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The lodge beside the Topanga Lagoon was inhabited by fishermen until prospector William Wills Coolbaugh bought it in 1909. A deputy sheriff burned it down on March 22, 1911, to evict the illegal homesteader.

Eduardo Camões painting, "Arch Rock, 1905," 2017?

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A man drives a horse wagon through Arch Rock in 1905, in this painting accessed from the internet in 2017.

A horse carriage pauses in front of Arch Rock

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A man stands beside a horse carriage, in front of Arch Rock

A horse wagon carries passengers across Topanga Creek

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A horse wagon carries passengers across Topanga Creek, while two women walk along the bank. The caption says, "Going up 'Topango' Canyon -- crossing a little stream is Emma and Jim on front seat, Mrs. H. Esther next, Mother S. sitting in back --…

A woman in a dress stands under Arch Rock

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A woman in a dress stands under Arch Rock. The retaining wall has been erased from the colorized version of this photo.

The White Squadron pauses for lunch in Brookside

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The White Squadron pauses for lunch in Brookside. The trip of 15 steam cars, carrying 67 people, was organized by Col. F. C. Fenner of the “White garage.”

Topanga Beach map, 1903

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A Topanga Beach map from 1903 shows four houses and the "Natural" Arch Rock.

Laurie Lanaro rides bike at Topanga Elementary School

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Laurie Lanaro rides a Schwinn StingRay bicycle on the upper playground at Topanga Elementary School.

Boys play basketball at Topanga Elementary School

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Perry Lanaro (white shirt) plays basketball with friends on the upper playground at Topanga Elementary School.

Barbara Luray painting, "April: B. (Dwarf Brodiaea?)," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "Untitled (Yucca)," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "Manzanita, Coast Chaparral in Spring," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "Manzanita," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "February-March: Acacia," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "February-March: Prickly Phlox," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "March: Chocolate Bells," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "February-March: Ceanothus," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "May: Buttercups," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "Late October: Toyon," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "October: Firecracker," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "March: Wild Peony," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "April: Lupin," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "April: Baby Blue Eyes," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "April: Rudbeckia," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "May: Indian Paintbrush," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "May: Wild Currant," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "May: Monkey Flower," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "All Year: Tobacco Bush," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "April: Mariposa Lily," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "May: Wild Cucumber," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Barbara Luray painting, "January: Buckthorne," 1956

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"Wild Flowers Topanga Canyon" is a series of 22 watercolor paintings by artist Barbara Luray, who lived in Topanga in the late '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Snow covers a house and palm tree in Old Topanga

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Snow covers a house and palm tree located at 1231 Old Topanga Canyon Road.

A yucca plant flowers in the snow on Sycamore Drive

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A yucca plant flowers in the snow on Sycamore Drive, overlooking George Williams's Topanga Hardware store on Old Topanga Canyon Rd. at center, and Firman Gray's house on the left.

The Big Snow covers Old Topanga Canyon Rd. near Oak Dr.

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The Big Snow on Old Topanga Canyon Rd. near Oak Drive covers trees, telephone poles, and mailboxes.

Snow covers Topanga Fire and Forestry Station

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Snow covers the Topanga Fire and Forestry Station. A man stands by parked cars on Fernwood Pacific Dr.

Snow covers trees in backyard on Entrada Rd.

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Snow covers trees in the backyard of "Ragland," the home of Bee and Bob, 21366 W. Entrada Rd.

The Rust family builds snowmen in Topanga

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The Rust family builds snowmen in Topanga. From left: unknown, Clayton Rust, unknown (seated), Cleo Rust Wendell, Avis Wendell, Ina Rust, Mary Kays

Alice Anderson and children play in the snow

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Alice Anderson and children play in the snow in the Winfield Road pasture. The children include Molly Anderson, Carol Haines, Lynn Haines, and Bruce Haines.

Stevie and Billy Speer build a snowman with a hat

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Stevie and Billy Speer build a snowman with a hat on Speer Ranch, 2775 Santa Maria Road, after the Big Snow.

Alice Anderson skis in the Winfield Road pasture

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Alice Anderson skis in the Winfield Road pasture after The Big Snow. Children from left: Carol Haines, Lynn Haines (above), Molly Anderson, and Bruce Haines.

Snow covers houses on Fernwood Pacific Dr.

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Snow covers trees, houses, and a car on Fernwood Pacific Dr. The view looks across the Canyon to Colina Dr.

Man and woman walk by parked cars on snow-covered road

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A man and woman walk by parked cars on snow-covered Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Horse carriage at former site of Arch Rock

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A man drives a horse carriage on the rocks at Topanga Beach. In the background is the former site of Arch Rock, which collapsed on March 23, 1906. Three women follow, including possibly May Rindge and her daughter Rhoda.

La Esperanza house's address plaque, Las Tunas Beach

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La Esperanza house's address plaque, Las Tunas Beach, reads "18862 Malibu." The house's name means, "The Hope," and formerly belonged to actors Greta Garbo, June Havoc, Fred MacMurray, and screenwriter Frank Pierson.

Armand Olaf Riza, Las Tunas Beach

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Armand Olaf Riza, Las Tunas Beach resident, wears wetsuit and windsurfing gear. Behind him are a boat and his neighbor's house, La Esperanza.

Armand Olaf Riza's surfboards at Las Tunas Beach

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Armand Olaf Riza's surfboards, at his home on Las Tunas Beach, are covered by a banner that says, "Malibu Surf & Sail, 18904 Pacific Coast Highway." The better-looking boards are for windsurfing. The others have weathered yellow and brown.

Las Tunas Isle Motel arched entrance

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Las Tunas Isle Motel arched entrance doorway with arundo bamboo decor and doorbells.

Las Tunas Isle Motel room doorbells

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Las Tunas Isle Motel room doorbells and arundo bamboo decor at front door.

Las Tunas Isle Motel check-in window and doorbell

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Las Tunas Isle Motel check-in window, doorbell, and arundo bamboo walls

Las Tunas Isle Motel bamboo wall

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Las Tunas Isle Motel arundo bamboo wall in the former Tiki Room.

Las Tunas Isle Motel bathroom wall and ceiling

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Las Tunas Isle Motel bathroom wall and ceiling have a tropical-plant decor, with green palm leaves painted around a lamp.

Las Tunas Isle Motel stained-glass window

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Las Tunas Isle Motel stained-glass window shows underwater scene with fish, seaweed, and a mermaid.

Red Rock Canyon geology

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Red Rock Canyon (Dry Canyon Quadrangle)
Lower Sespe Conglomerate Rock Cliff
Yucca Whipplei Intermedia
Platanus Racemosa
Quercus Agrifolia

Red Rock Canyon geology

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Red Rock Canyon, Conglomeritic Sandstone, Lower Sespe Formation.

Summit to Summit Trail, looking northeast

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Looking North-East from the site, showing a dedicated trail and ridge line, as well as two million-gallon water tanks that are Topanga's water supply.

Summit to Summit Trail, looking northwest

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Looking northwest into Mulholland Heights (formerly Sunnyglen) from deeded open space, showing planted Oaks and dedicated trail.