As detailed by LAist in their article, “How LA’s Streetlights Serve As Beacons To The City’s Past,” Los Angeles is home to an often-overlooked historical gem: its remarkable streetlights. While the city is famed for its entertainment, food, and natural beauty, few people realize that its streetlights, some dating back to the late 1800s, are among the oldest structures in many neighborhoods.
India Mandelkern, historian and author of Electric Moons: A Social History of Street Lighting in Los Angeles, highlights the deep cultural and historical significance of these lights. “When you’re standing here and you’re looking at an old streetlight from the 1920s, there’s a really good chance that it’s the oldest thing in your field of view,” Mandelkern notes. These lights, often predating nearby roads and buildings, serve as “modern totems” that connect Angelenos with the city’s past. They stand as symbols of community aspirations, each design embodying different eras of civic pride and artistic influence.
Mandelkern’s journey into what she calls a “streetlight safari” began during her time as a fellow at LACMA. Her research, which even included a zine on Chris Burden’s “Urban Light” installation, gradually expanded to a broader study of L.A.’s streetlighting history. From Gothic-inspired lamps to art deco masterpieces, Los Angeles streetlights reflect the city’s architectural diversity and rich urban heritage.
For those interested in L.A.’s unique past, these streetlights offer more than just light; they serve as enduring connections to history. Learn more about the diversity of designs and the historical context surrounding these lights by exploring Mandelkern’s work and other local landmarks maintained by the city’s Bureau of Street Lighting.
Explore LampLight Industries’ range of innovative and heritage-inspired street lighting solutions that honor the past while illuminating the future.
Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of laist.com
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