The Oldest Known Aerial Photograph of Los Angeles

As far as I know - this is the first aerial shot of the City of Angels. Taken on the afternoon of June 26, 1887  from a hot air balloon at 9,000 feet by photographer Edwin H. Husher, the image was a publicity stunt orchestrated by young newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst - meant to sell advertising. From what I gather after a little Internet poking, this stunt caused quite the stir below...residents gathered on their rooftops to have a look at the lofty spectacle. But more interesting is the city itself. By 1887 it still remained somewhat rough and tumble - not yet rivaling it's northern metropolis sister, San Francisco. This image captures LA in its formative years - the 1880s were the height of a Southern California boom cycle...and here we can see the outline a future urban behemoth. I can imagine the construction below on Bunker Hill...Victorian mansions overseeing a growing city. The mansions are all gone now, which is a shame. But if you want to have a look at a few at the end of their lives, have a look HERE.

With compliments,

Keith