Whittier is located in Los Angeles County, about 12 miles southeast of the City of Los Angeles, California.
The City of Whittier has a diverse and colorful history beginning with the Gabrielino Indians who first inhabited the area during the City’s pre-history. Later, Spanish California (1769-1821) would influence the region with the establishment of both missions and large ranchos. It was the Spanish land grant given to retired solider Jose Manuel Nieto in 1784 that would encompass part of present day Whittier.
During the 1920s and 1930s, residential and commercial development was becoming increasingly geared toward accommodating the automobile. This became evident as residential garages replaced barns and streets were widened and paved with parking spaces to accommodate automobile traffic as the use of public rail for transportation waned and eventually ended in Whittier by 1938.
Here, below are some rare and amazing vintage photos that show the life in Whittier, California from between the 1900s and 1920s.
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Whittier College Girls Basketball Team in 1900 in front of Founders Hall in Whittier, California. |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
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Driving on Turnbull Canyon in Whittier, 1914 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
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Whittier, CA Fire Department in 1904 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
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Whittier Bakery truck, 1900 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Celebrating the building of Turnbull Canyon Road in Whittier, CA, 1913 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Golden Rule Store, 1910 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
D.E. McDaneld Packard store, vintage cars and lots of girls back in Whittier, California, 1925. They even used girls to sell cars back then! |
The Greenleaf Hotel on Greenleaf Avenue in Whittier, 1910 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
First National Bank, corner of Greenleaf and Philadelphia in Whittier, California, ca. 1907 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
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Citrus Packing, California, 1910 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
The Quaker community of Whittier in 1907 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
J.A. Buckmaster Shoe store with owners on Greenleaf Avenue in Whittier, 1910 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
County Road in Whittier, 1920 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Vintage Road Rally, Whittier, 1912 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
William Penn Hotel, early 1900s |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Carrying telephone poles, 1910 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Lady plowing California in 1910 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
California farm school, 1900 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Santa Fe Springs oil crew |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Kids at Bailey Street School, 1907 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Whittier, California had many walnut trees back in the early 1900s |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Phildelphia St., Whittier, CA, 1924 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Cabbage packing industry near the Whittier Brick Company in 1910 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Barber shop 1906 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Croquet game, 1920 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Whittier Sanitary Dairy, 1925 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
May Pole Dance, Whittier, 1905 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Hazlitt Market and A&R Cleaners on Greenleaf Avenue in Whittier, California, ca. 1920s |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Walnut shipping at Rivera Freight House, 1925 |
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
Amazing Vintage Photographs Capture Daily Life in Whittier, California From the Early 20th Century
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The News, Whittier, CA, 1905. This was the location of the The News and its employees in Whittier, California. |