
Laurel Avenue looking east towards Arnold Drive from top of El Verano Depot
The Watkins Collection
In 1880, Carleton Watkins went to Southern California for the first time and traveled along the line of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Later he went to the “End of the Track” and as far as Tombstone Arizona. The photographs taken by Watkins on this trip represent some of the earliest views of San Bernardino, San Gabriel, Pasadena, Los Angeles, San Diego and including Sonoma Valley. On the way back to San Francisco, he followed the old overland stage road, traveling the greater part of the way in his wagon and photographing most of the Franciscan missions. These pictures constitute the earliest photographic collection of California Missions.
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