Place Archive

Los Angeles

Los Angeles contains the abandoned Griffith Park Zoo enclosures, constructed in the 1930s with WPA labor, which housed bears, lions, and elephants until the zoo’s relocation in 1965. Along the San Pedro coastline, Sunken City displays fractured concrete remnants and graffiti, marking the site of a 1929 landslide that submerged a residential neighborhood into the Pacific Ocean.

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Homes in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Photographed in April 2015.
Homes in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, photographed in April 2015. This affluent residential area is situated in the Santa Monica Mountains, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The neighborhood has historically been susceptible to wildfires, a risk tragically underscored by the January 2025 fires that significantly impacted the region.
City skyline and rooftops viewed from a Hyatt hotel window on Century Boulevard near LAX in Los Angeles.
The Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport sits on Century Boulevard, a corridor lined with hotels serving travelers to LAX just blocks away. Century Boulevard developed into the airport's hotel row starting in the 1960s, as air travel through LAX expanded rapidly. From upper floors of the hotel, the flight path corridor and surrounding Westchester and Inglewood neighborhoods stretch toward downtown Los Angeles, roughly 15 miles to the northeast. The San Gabriel Mountains form the backdrop to the Los Angeles Basin on clear days.
Yellow and black spray-painted graffiti reading "Welcome to Sunken City" on a concrete slab in San Pedro, California.
Sunken City sits on Point Fermin in San Pedro, a stretch of coastline that began sliding toward the ocean in 1929 due to unstable bluffs and a fault line beneath the area. The slide eventually swallowed streets, sidewalks, and house foundations that once belonged to a residential subdivision. The city fenced off the site decades ago, but the broken concrete slabs have long drawn graffiti artists and urban explorers despite posted warnings. Point Fermin Park borders the area, with views out over the Pacific.
Grafton on Sunset hotel room in Hollywood with two twin beds and zebra-print bedding
A guest room at the Grafton on Sunset in Hollywood, California, has two twin beds with zebra-print bedding. Large photographic wall art fills the space above each bed, and a lamp sits on the shared nightstand between them.
Sunset over the Pacific Ocean from San Pedro, California, with silhouetted trees and coastal grasses in the foreground.
Sunset over the Pacific Ocean as seen from San Pedro, California. Silhouetted trees and coastal grasses are visible in the foreground, with the sun's rays breaking through the foliage. The ocean stretches to the horizon, meeting a sky transitioning from deep blue to warm orange hues.
San Pedro Coastal Bluffs, California, featuring palm trees and graffiti-marked rocks overlooking the ocean at sunset. Evidence of informal use and debris is present on the geologically unstable terrain.
The San Pedro Coastal Bluffs in California are seen with palm trees and rocky terrain marked by graffiti. The ocean stretches to the horizon under a soft, golden sky, with evidence of human presence including scattered debris and painted surfaces on the bluffs. This area is known for its geological instability and historical significance, particularly its connection to the 'Sunken City' legend, a section of land that slid into the ocean in 1929. The graffiti indicates ongoing informal use of the bluffs, contrasting with the natural coastal environment and the distant shipping lanes.
San Pedro Coastal Bluffs, California, feature graffiti-adorned concrete remnants and palm trees overlooking the ocean.
The San Pedro Coastal Bluffs in California are marked by weathered concrete structures and palm trees, with visible graffiti adorning the rocks and debris scattered on the ground. The ocean is visible in the background under a clear sky. These bluffs are part of the coastline near the historic Sunken City, an area of San Pedro that experienced a massive landslide in 1929, causing homes and streets to slide into the ocean. The remaining concrete structures are remnants of the area's past development, now a popular spot for urban exploration and often adorned with graffiti.
The Sunken City in San Pedro, California, features coastal rocks, palm trees, and remnants of concrete structures overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The Sunken City in San Pedro, California, features rugged coastal rocks and palm trees overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The area is characterized by broken concrete slabs and graffiti-covered surfaces, remnants of a past development. This site, once a wealthy residential neighborhood, was inundated by a landslide in 1929 and subsequently submerged by high tides. The exposed ruins are now a popular, albeit unofficial, destination for urban explorers and photographers, offering a unique glimpse into the area's geological and historical past.
Sunken City, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, a former residential neighborhood, now a coastal area known for its geological history and views of the Port of Los Angeles breakwater.
Sunken City, a neighborhood in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, was once a thriving residential area. In 1929, a massive landslide caused much of the neighborhood to slide into the Pacific Ocean, leading to its abandonment. The area is now a popular spot for urban exploration and offers views of the coastline and the Port of Los Angeles breakwater. The remaining structures and debris serve as a stark reminder of the geological forces that reshaped the coastline.
San Pedro Coastal Park in California offers views of the Pacific Ocean and features a path through grassy areas and trees, with a fence visible on the left.
San Pedro Coastal Park in California overlooks the Pacific Ocean. This area, known for its dramatic cliffs and ocean views, has a history tied to geological instability, most notably the "Sunken City" area which experienced landslides in the early 20th century. Today, the park serves as a public space for enjoying the coastal environment and its natural beauty.
Modernist concrete building with silhouetted figures in upper window at abandoned George Air Force Base in Victorville.
George Air Force Base opened in 1941 near Victorville, California, and served as a training installation for fighter pilots through the Cold War. The Air Force closed it in 1992 under a round of base realignment cuts, leaving behind housing, administrative buildings, and connecting structures like this elevated walkway. Much of the site was later redeveloped into the Southern California Logistics Airport, though clusters of the original concrete buildings remain standing, their windows broken out and interiors stripped over three decades of exposure. The raised, glass-lined passage once linked separate wings of the facility, allowing staff to move between buildings without crossing the grounds below.
Abandoned modernist residential building with large windows at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California.
George Air Force Base operated in Victorville, California, from 1941 until its closure under the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure program, with the final withdrawal completed in 1992. The base served as a training center for fighter and bomber crews, later becoming home to Tactical Air Command units during the Cold War. Buildings like this one, with its angled roofline and glass-paneled sunroom, were part of the base's community and recreational facilities built to support thousands of stationed personnel and their families. After the base closed, the surrounding city took over portions of the property for redevelopment, but many structures, including this one, were left to decay. The site is now part of the Southern California Logistics Airport, though pockets of the old base remain frozen in their 1990s abandonment.
Abandoned residential building interior with broken windows and debris at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California.
George Air Force Base opened in 1941 as Victorville Army Airfield and was renamed in 1950 to honor Brigadier General Harold H. George. For decades it served as a fighter pilot training center, home to squadrons flying the F-4 Phantom and later the F-4G Wild Weasel. The Base Realignment and Closure Commission ordered its shutdown in 1988, and the Air Force turned the property over in 1992. Much of the former base was redeveloped as Southern California Logistics Airport, though numerous administrative and residential buildings from the base's operational years were left standing and later fell into disrepair.
Deteriorated interior hallway with red doors and graffiti-covered walls at abandoned George Air Force Base.
George Air Force Base operated near Victorville, California, from 1941 until it closed in 1992 under a national round of military base realignments. During its active years the base trained Tactical Air Command pilots and served as a key installation through World War II and the Cold War. Since closure, many of its buildings have stood empty, stripped of fixtures and hardware, their doorframes and windows broken out over decades of exposure and vandalism. Portions of the former base were redeveloped into Southern California Logistics Airport, but a large share of the original structures remain vacant and deteriorating.
Abandoned interior corridor with rusted metal railings and graffiti-covered walls at George Air Force Base.
George Air Force Base operated near Victorville, California, from 1941 until its closure under the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure process, with final shutdown in 1992. The base supported Tactical Air Command and later Air Combat Command units, housing thousands of personnel and their families in an on-site community that included its own retail and services complex. Base exchange and commissary facilities like this one served as the primary shopping hub for residents, functioning much like a small-town shopping center. Since the closure, much of the former base has sat vacant or been redeveloped piecemeal as Southern California Logistics Airport, leaving structures like this one stripped of fixtures and open to decay.
Abandoned residential buildings at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California at dusk.
George Air Force Base operated in Victorville, California, from 1941 until its closure under the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure process, with the base shutting down in December 1992. Built originally as Victorville Army Air Field, it later became a Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command installation, home to bomber and fighter squadrons over five decades. The base's family housing tracts, built in the ranch-style common to Cold War-era military construction, once held hundreds of units for service members and their families. After closure, the property was redeveloped as Southern California Logistics Airport, though large sections of the old residential streets and housing rows were left standing and empty for years afterward.
Deteriorated interior courtyard with debris and bare branches visible through broken glass doors at George Air Force Base.
George Air Force Base operated near Victorville, California, from 1941 until its closure under the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Act, with the base shutting down in 1992. Housing units built for officers and enlisted families were left standing after the closure, and many have sat vacant for decades since. The base's residential blocks, once maintained by the Air Force, fell under the control of various redevelopment agencies as plans for reuse stalled repeatedly over the years. Broken windows and overgrown yards mark many of these former quarters, remnants of a military community that once numbered in the thousands during the Cold War era.
Interior of abandoned residential building at George Air Force Base showing orange-lit room with bare tree visible through broken
George Air Force Base operated as a U.S. Air Force installation near Victorville, California, from 1941 until its closure under the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, with the last units leaving in 1992. The base's family housing sat vacant for decades afterward, left to weather and vandalism as redevelopment plans for the site stalled. Portions of the former base were later repurposed as Southern California Logistics Airport, though many residential structures were never reclaimed and continued to deteriorate. Interiors like this one, with failing ceilings and broken windows, reflect that long stretch of neglect rather than any single event.
Abandoned residential buildings with bare trees along cracked pavement at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California.
George Air Force Base operated in Victorville, California, from 1941 until its closure under the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure round, with the last personnel leaving in 1992. The base served as a training center for fighter and attack pilots for much of the Cold War, home to squadrons flying the F-4 Phantom and later the F-16. Its housing areas, built to accommodate thousands of military families, included rows of duplex and fourplex units laid out along interior streets much like a small town. After the closure, the surrounding property was redeveloped as Southern California Logistics Airport, though large sections of the old family housing were left standing and eventually abandoned. Decades of vacancy have left the streets cracked and overgrown, with the concrete curbs and pavement markings the clearest remaining trace of the neighborhood's original layout.
Abandoned residential buildings line a cracked road at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California.
George Air Force Base operated from 1941 until its closure in 1992 under the federal Base Realignment and Closure program, a casualty of post-Cold War defense cuts. At its peak the base supported thousands of Air Force personnel and their families, with base housing built to accommodate airmen stationed there for tactical fighter training. The residential streets, curbs, and driveways remain intact decades after the base shut down, though the buildings that lined them have been stripped and left to deteriorate. Part of the former base was later redeveloped into Southern California Logistics Airport, but sections of the old housing area were simply abandoned in place. The San Bernardino Mountains rise to the north, the same backdrop that would have greeted residents commuting to the flight line each morning.
Abandoned residential building with broken windows and dry vegetation at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California.
George Air Force Base, near Victorville, California, served as a training and fighter base for the Army Air Forces beginning in 1941 and later became a Tactical Air Command installation before its closure in 1992 under a federal base realignment program. Family housing on the base included rows of single-story duplex units built to accommodate enlisted and officer personnel and their families during decades of active service. After the base shut down, the surrounding land and its residential streets were transferred for civilian reuse as part of the Southern California Logistics Airport, though many of the original housing units, numbered 712 and 714 among them, were never redeveloped. The base's history spans World War II training operations through Cold War-era jet fighter squadrons stationed there into the early 1990s.
Abandoned residential building with bare trees along cracked pavement at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California.
George Air Force Base operated near Victorville, California, from 1941 until its closure in 1992 under the federal Base Realignment and Closure program. The base housed fighter and bomber squadrons over its history, including F-4 Phantom and F-111 units during the Cold War era. Its residential neighborhoods, built to house service members and their families, were left standing after decommissioning, and many structures have sat vacant for decades. Parts of the former base were later redeveloped into Southern California Logistics Airport, though sections of the old housing area remain untouched.
Abandoned residential building with damaged roof and broken windows at George Air Force Base in Victorville.
George Air Force Base traces back to 1941, when the Army Air Corps opened Victorville Army Air Field as a bombardier and gunnery training site. It was renamed in 1950 for Brig. Gen. Harold Lee George, a pioneer of American strategic bombing doctrine, and later served as a Strategic Air Command installation during the Cold War. The base closed in 1992 under a federal Base Realignment and Closure order, and its residential blocks were left to the desert. Much of the property has since been folded into the Southern California Logistics Airport, though rows of former family housing still stand empty, their doors and windows marked with spray-painted X's from post-closure inspections.
Deteriorated interior of abandoned residential building at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California.
George Air Force Base operated as a United States Air Force installation near Victorville, California, from 1941 until its closure under the 1992 Base Realignment and Closure Act. The base once housed thousands of military families in on-site residential units built to support tactical fighter squadrons stationed there during the Cold War. After decommissioning, much of the housing stock was left to deteriorate, with plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, and interior finishes stripped or scattered by scavengers and time. The surrounding high desert climate, with its wide temperature swings and dry air, has accelerated the decay of wood and drywall in these vacant structures. Parts of the former base were later redeveloped into Southern California Logistics Airport, though many residential blocks remain untouched ruins.

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