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The boat house and lagoon, Venice, Cal.

 
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Title
The boat house and lagoon, Venice, Cal.
Description
Tourists dressed in early 20th century style clothing ride in a gondola on the Grand Canal in Venice, California. The gondola is adorned with an American flag and a lantern. Small boats and canoes are on the same canal in the background. A boathouse appears on the right side of the image with a sign that reads "Gondolas". An arched footbridge crosses the Grand Canal. A collection of bungalows known as "Villa City" or "Venetian Villas" can be seen in the background.
Physical description
1 postcard : Color ; 9 x 14 cm.
Subject
Canals--California--Los Angeles; Gondolas--California--Los Angeles; Footbridges--California--Los Angeles; Boats and boating--California--Los Angeles; Boathouses--California--Los Angeles;
Note
Originally part of the Ocean Park district of Santa Monica, Abbot Kinney's vision of Venice in America was developed starting in 1904, complete with a canal system and singing gondoliers. Canal construction began in 1904, and in 1905 construction of an amusement pier began. Kinney's plan for Venice included 592 residential lots, some of which sold for as much as $2700 (a high price at the time). Kinney also created affordable vacation housing for visitors. At first, there were simple tent structures that could be rented for lower prices, located in an area known as "Tent City," but around 1907 the tents were replaced with small bungalows. However, as the residential housing grew, many Venice visitors decided to become permanent residents. Venice formally disincorporated from Ocean Park in 1911, and in 1925, Venice was annexed to the city of Los Angeles. By 1929, many of the canals had been filled in and paved as roads due to health and engineering problems. The area depicted in this view later became the intersection of Grand Boulevard and the Venice traffic circle.
Collection Location
Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection
Type
Geographic Location
Venice (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Language
eng
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