PHOTOS OF THE OIL DERRICKS THAT ONCE TOWERED OVER ALL THOSE FAMOUS CALIFORNIA BEACHES Meanwhile, in Los Angeles: Northern California’s redwoods are striking, but the forests of oil derricks that once spread across areas of urban southern California leave a distinct impression as well. The Retronauts at Mashable have pulled together a collection of photos of densely-spaced derricks that loomed over Venice, Long Beach, Signal Hill, and other well-known L.A. areas in the 1920’s and 30’s. The derricks can be seen standing tall in, around, and over urban scenes across the region — between houses, in commercial areas, and at the beach, all the way to the water’s edge. [Mashable]
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These photos are amazing!
Wow. I’ve walked across that bridge many times. I’m stunned by what it looked like in the past.
The Los Angeles area in general, and Long Beach and Signal Hill in particular, still sport more pump jacks than we’ve seen in the Energy Capital of the World® since the heyday of the old Goose Creek Field out Baytown way. California has a serious love-hate thing going on with oil.
Driving through LA I was surprised how many pump jacks are strewn about residential neighborhoods, I don’t think even Houston would feel comfortable with that. I suppose we think Commiefornia is all Greeny Weanies, but I guess that’s because they are the loudest group, not because they have any actual power.
Some of that stuff is still there, but hidden from view, sometimes quite cleverly. Check out http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/los-angeles/2010/06/26/urban-oil-wells-in-los-angeles/
for some examples.