Browse Items (1409 total)

Red Rock Canyon

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Iron oxide turns the Lower Sespe conglomerate in Red Rock Canyon to rust.

Cheese Rock in Old Topanga Canyon

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Cheese Rock in Old Topanga Canyon Narrows is gouged with holes or "tafoni" caused by differential weathering.

Selected fossils from the Topanga Canyon Formation

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1. Calyptraea coreyi Addicott
2. Diplodonta (Felaniella) harfordi Anderson
3. Batillaria ocoyana (Anderson and Martin)
4. Bittium topangensis (Arnold)
5. Tegula (Cholorostoma) dalli (Arnold)
6. Crassostrea titan (Conrad)
7. Turritella…

The Big Snow, January 12, 1949

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Butch, JoAnn, and John Goodman

The Big Snow, January 12, 1949

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Shaking snow from the mail on Old Topanga.

The Big Snow, January 12, 1949

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The Goodman family

The Big Snow, January 12, 1949

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Cars sliding on Entrada

The Big Snow, January 12, 1949

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A cactus garden covered in snow on Entrada

Metates found at Tank Site

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Native American metates for grinding seeds found on the surface of the Tank Site

Student works at the Tank Site

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Student works at the 8,000-year-old Native American "Tank Site" on Trippet Ranch (now Topanga State Park), excavated by UC Berkeley.

Bedrock mortar

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Bedrock mortars, holes made my Native American women grinding seeds, occur in many places in Topanga sandstone. This one was found near Top of Topanga.

Stone points and knives

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Stone points and knives found at the Native American "Tank Site"

Cave in the Santa Maria area

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Hikers stand in a cave in the Santa Maria area, near where Native American pictographs were found.

Native American skeletons

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Native American skeletons over 8,000 years old exposed at the Tank Site.

The Robber's Hut

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This stone house was said to be the hide-out of Tiburcio Vasquez.

Francisco Trujillo

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Francisco died a few years later when a horse kicked him.

Trujillo family (Dolores , Cornelia, Rosagua, and Dolores Jr,) with Miss Ericson

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Dolores Trujillo, 53, with wife Cornelia, children Rosagua and Dolores Jr, their teacher Miss Ericson, and their lamb Buckoo.

Trujillo Ranch gate

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Trujillo Ranch gate built by grandson John Wiley in 2001

Jack Wood's stone house

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Jack Wood, a pioneer stage and Post Office mail driver, built this stone house in the early 20th century in Old Topanga Canyon.

Santa Maria Road cemetery

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Rosetta Goebel was the cemetery's first occupant.

George Melcher ranch

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George Melcher and his second wife Marguerite Douphner Melcher are flanked by Betty and Ken Douphner to the left and Helen Cheney, Callan Cheney, and young Gary Cheney to the right.

Bertha Melcher with Charlotte and baby Ruth

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Bertha Melcher was known as the "Madonna of the Mountains."

Sunbonnet Baby by Bertha Corbett Melcher

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Artist Bertha Corbett Melcher made her fortune with her creation of the Sunbonnett Babies.

Bertha Corbett Melcher, Jessie, Mrs. Luther

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Bertha Corbett Melcher (right) sits with a woman (probably sister Jessie). Mrs. Luther is standing.

Reverend Frederick Post with Dolores Trujillo

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The Reverent Frederick Post lost his extensive library when his home burned.

Man cinching his burro

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Walter Armacost snapped a friend cinching his burron as they stopped in Topanga on their way to the Sierra Nevadas.

Bob Hutton and Mort Allen smoke pipes

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Frequent guest Bob Hutton sits back to back with Mort Allen, "a man not given to unnecessary effort."

Les Storrs in Greenleaf Canyon

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Les Storrs, age 16, at the Hutton cabin built by Mort Allen in Greenleaf Canyon.

Stella McAllister and nephew at her tavern

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Stella McAllister and nephew at her tavern. She insisted her guests help in the kitchen.

Bob Hutton in Greenleaf Canyon

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After Bob Hutton married, he built a home in Greenleaf Canyon out of homemade adobe bricks.

Mrs. Templer Allen with cousin Hugh Twyford

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Mrs. Templer Allen, owner of Moel-Y-Gan, with cousin Hugh Twyford.

Von Arnswaldts' cabin in Red Rock Canyon

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Tony von Arnswaldt and his wife's cabin in Red Rock Canyon opened the area to development.

Adelaide Gibbon at her stone house

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William and Adelaide Gibbon built this stone house, which featured her wood carvings.

Norris E., Charlies I., Edwin, and Edwin R. Julian

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Four generations: Norris E., Charlies I., Edwin, and Edwin R. Julian.

Irwin Julian with furs

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Irwin Julian with a shipment of furs that brought him just over $50.

Red Cross Building

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During World War I, ladies sold Mrs. Julian's "Canadian War Cakes" to tourists in front of this Red Cross Building at Old and New Canyon junctions to raise money for the war effort.

Katherine and Lee Haines family

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Katherine (Kneen) and Lee Haines, with children Carol, Bruce, and Lynn.

Manx Lodge

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Jim Kneen built Manx Lodge on Robinson Road.

Taj Mahal entrance on Entrada Road

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Thomas W. ("Bill") Kneen (left) built this Taj Mahal entrance for Mr. Hanlon (right) on Entrada Road.

May Kneen and daughter Katherine

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May Kneen and daughter Katherine at the home built by husband Bill. Badly damages in the 1994 earthquake, the house was razed and rebuilt by Jake Stehelin to resemble the original.

Water tank in the shape of a milk bottle

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Thomas W. ("Bill") Kneen built this water tank on Red Rock Road in the shape of a milk bottle in the 1930s.

Judge Oscar Trippet

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Trippet Ranch became the centerpiece of Topanga State Park.

Cora Trippet

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Trippet Ranch became the centerpiece of Topanga State Park.

Cora Trippet and son Oscar A. Trippet

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Cora Trippet and son Oscar A. Trippet under portrait of her husband. Trippet Ranch became the centerpiece of Topanga State Park.

The Pawlowski family on Route 66

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The Pawlowski family (second car from left) on Route 66, from Michigan to Topanga.

A Pawlowski family picnic by Topanga Creek

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A Pawlowski family picnic by Topanga Creek. Peter and Pauline, with his parents Pelagia and Julius.

Floyd Palmaymesa with aunt Hazel and friend

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Floyd Palmaymesa with aunt Hazel and friend in Old Topanga Canyon.

Caroline Hansen at John Heron's cabin

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Caroline Hansen, whose parents owned the Outside Inn, at John Heron's cabin on a Saddle Peak slope.

The Outside Inn

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Original owner Dan Fletcher at The Outside Inn.

Topanga Tavern on Old Topanga Canyon

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Topanga Tavern was built in 1909 on Old Topanga Canyon just south of the Narrows.

Walter Armacost and friends

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Walter Armacost and friends trek through Topanga.

Hay baling crew

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As a boy, Fred Venneman joined a neighborhood hay baling crew that included Jesus Santa Maria (aboard baler) and George Cheney (second from right).

Picnic in Veteran Springs (Glenview)

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Spanish War veterans hold a picnic in Veteran Springs (later known as Glenview).

Flyer for Mohn Springs

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Advertising flyer for Mohn Springs

Mark Venneman

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Mark Venneman with favorite horse team, Cap and Maud.

Agnes Venneman

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Agnes Venneman reared eight children in Topanga.

Leona, Theresa, Vera, and Mark Venneman

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Leona, Theresa, Vera, and Mark Venneman on their farm.

Pine Tree Circle

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Topanga Post office and General Store in Pine Tree Circle.

The Penny Dance Band

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The Penny Dance Band played at Solomon's lively dance halls.

Fred Solomon leads orphans in a race

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Fred Solomon leads orphans in a race on property that became Topanga Center.

The Sylvia Park subdivision

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The new Sylvia Park subdivision, as seen from the Goebel Ranch.

Vance Hoyt holds a grey fox

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Vance Hoyt holds a grey fox at his Bonnell Park ranch.

W. D. Hacker cabin in Fernwood Park

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Weekend cabin of Dr. and Mrs. W. D. Hacker built in 1924 in the Fernwood Park development at the northwest corner of Fernwood Pacific and Horseshoe Drives.

Gray family: Russ, Mae, Bonnie, Carole, Don, and June

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Russ Gray (with nose to the grindstone) and his wife Mae with Bonnie, Carole, Don, and June.

Coins offering free lots in Sylvia Park

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Coins were scattered in Los Angeles offering finders free lots and memberships in Sylvia Park Country Club. "If you find this coin, bring it to us at once. It entitles you to a $150 Membership in our beautiful country club...."

Southern California's Prettiest Drive

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"Southern California's Prettiest Drive" is Francis Brunner's booklet advertising his Topanga-Las Flores Canyon Stage. The Topanga Historical Society published a reprint of this 32-page booklet.

Alva Gustavus at his Little Brown Church in the Wildwood

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Retired Baptist Minister Alva Gustavus stands by his "Little Brown Church in the Wildwood" behind Horseshoe Bend Inn.

Horseshoe Bend Inn

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Horseshoe Bend Inn opens in mid-1920s with dance pavilion spanning creek at rear and sun deck on roof.

Topanga Mineral Springs

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Horseshoe Bend was renamed Topanga Mineral Springs and its waters were sold to customers in Los Angeles.

Tent City, formerly Cooper's Camp

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Tent City, formerly Cooper's Camp, with the construction site for the 1933 bridge across Topanga Lagoon.

The Rust family at Topanga Beach

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The Rust family at Topanga Beach.

FRONT:
Ellen Rust Penland, Joanne Simmons, Thais Rust, Ray and Leon Simmons, Ella Rust, Avis Wendill, Fern Rust, Raburn Stedman Rust.

MIDDLE:
Clayton Rust, Roy Rust, Claude Simmons, Edythe Rust, Fleta Rust,…

Ina and Clayton Rust at Rust’s Barbecue

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Ina and Clayton Rust at Rust’s Barbecue in Lower Topanga.

Thais Rust in Brookside

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Thais Rust as a teenager sitting on a '35 Ford Coupe in Brookside in Lower Topanga.

Step Inn Cafe and gas station at Topanga and PCH

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Step Inn Cafe and Clayton Rust's Shell gas station at Topanga and PCH.

Topanga Beach houses along the old coast road

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Topanga Beach houses along the old coast road, before they were swept away by high waves in a February 1926 storm.

Topanga Beach Auto Court

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Topanga Beach Auto Court, with James Talmadge's Deusenberg. James was the son of Buster Keaton and lived on Tuna Beach.

Jerry Hanes, Bobby Jacks, Bob Talmadge

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Jerry Hanes, Bobby Jacks, Bob Talmadge

Bud Luse and friends at the garage by the old Post Office

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At the garage by the old Post Office.

Kneeling: George Ortez, Charles Gammon.

Standing: Ken Douphner, Bud Luse, and Richard Flood.

The Penny family on Paradise Lane

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Kathryn Penny and Melvin Penny, with children Joel Dean Penny and Milo Penny.

In front of the John Albright home on Paradise Lane.

Sadie and Cash Albright at home on Paradise Lane

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Sadie Albright pours a drink for husband Cash at their Wild Horze Bar in the home he built on Paradise Lane.

Civilian Conservation Corps camp

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The New Deal brought a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp to Topanga.

The Topanga Protection Committee

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The Topanga Protection Committee organized in 1942 by Oscar-winning producer/director Frank Lloyd (seated center). Pictured are standing from left: Hildor Barton, two unknown, Des Barton, Kenneth Connors, Hugh Harlan, Ralph Kiewitt. Seated: W. V.…

American Legion Honor Roll

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Honor Roll of men and women serving in armed forces is unveiled by the American Legion on Memorial Day 1944 at Pine Tree Circle

Topanga Women's Auxiliary

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Topanga Women's Auxiliary threw an old-fashioned community picnic in 1942, precursor to the fairs. Standing from left: Elva Sigrist, unknown, Hermoine Cox, unknown, Virley Harlan, Mrs. Theriault, Nelle Upham, unknown, Louise Adams, Helen Blencourt,…

Camp Wildwood

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Owner Oka Stewart supervises Camp Wildwood swim classes.