FOUNDING IMAGES OF VAN NUYS

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                          2013

Celebrating the arrival of the cherished "Red Car" of the Pacific Electric Railroad.  (click on images to enlarge them.) The first decade of the city of Van Nuys. Join Richard Hilton for his special Museum walking tour.

Van Nuys in 1911 - looking south on what is now Van Nuys Boulevard at Sylvan Street. Though there were few is any trees, the street was called Sylvan in the anticipation of an urban forest here in the future. Watch The Museum's website and this blog for the times for our next Van Nuys walking tour.

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DAVID COSCIA PUBLISHES WORK ON PACIFIC ELECTRIC AND THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY    2012

I had the chance to visit a bit with the railroad aficionado David Coscia at this Sunday's Campo de Cahuenga reenactment events. David is the author of a new work entitled "Pacific Electric and the Growth of the San Fernando Valley."  The Museum's Public Speakers Series, and Campo de Cahunega's "fireside chats" will be presenting a special lecture and book signing with David in the near future.

PACIFIC ELECTRIC RR STATION ON SHERMAN WAY IN VAN NUYS

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY  2011

At the conclusion of The Museum's recent historic walking tour of historic North Hollywood, Mr. Bob Peppermuller mentioned his interest in finding historic photographs of the Pacific Electric Picover freight station on Sherman Way just west of the Van Nuys Airport.

The Museum Community wants to help Mr. Peppermuller locate the images he's looking for, but also photographs of Abner's Yellow Barn before it burned down. 

Here are some images shared by Robert Peppermuller with The Museum's Archives. (click on the images to enlarge them.)

Contact:  Jerry Fecht if you can help on this:
gerald.fecht@theMuseumSFV.org

THE RED CAR - CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF VAN NUYS - 100 YEARS OF SAN FERNANDO

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY               2011

The great old "Red Car" system (the Pacific Electric Railway) tied the San Fernando Valley to other cities in greater Los Angeles.

 Detail of Red Car Map - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011. (click on image to enlarge) 

THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FORMS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Pacific Electric Railroad "Red Car" - Photograph - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 - Gift of Gary Fredburg (click on image to enlarge)
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is seeking community members for our Public Transportation Committee. If you have a friend, of if you care about Valley railroad, Red Car, buses, freeways, streets or subways, --- please contact The Museum to have your name included in our Public Transportation Committee meetings.
1 (818) 347-9665

Pacific Electric Railroad "Red Car" - Photograph - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 - Gift of Gary Fredburg (click on image to enlarge)
While it appears at first glance that the Red Car in this photograph is heading for the City of San Fernando, under a magnifying glass the sign has a smaller "Valley" accompanying the destination sign.

Pacific Electric Railroad "Red Car" - Photograph - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 - Gift of Gary Fredburg (click on image to enlarge)
Identifying the location where historic photographs were taken is an on-going Museum challenge. This image was easy, since there is a street marker saying Ethel Avenue.

HENRY E. HUNTINGTON BROUGHT TROLLEY TRANSPORTATION TO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Henry E. Huntington - Gift of Gary Fredburg 2008 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

Henry E. Huntington began the Pacific Electric Railway in 1902. Huntington's fabulous art collection, gardens and financial endowment gave the Huntington Library and art galleries to Southern California.

Cahuenga Pass in 1911 - Gift of Gary Fredburg 2008 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

In 1911, the Pacific Electric Railway (the famous "Red Cars of Los Angeles") was sold to the Southern Pacific Railroad. In the above image, the Red Car system is seen expanding into the San Fernando Valley from Hollywood.

Your Museum collects and preserves artifacts and information about California transportation. The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.