Huntington Beach Old Photos and Information for Surf City

The most recent history of Huntington Beach is 100-year venture into tourism, oil & space exploration and soft industries with corporate headquarters locating to the city. Huntington Beach's rich history of photos began with the Newland House, the Red Car, a pleasure pier, ocean plunge, pavilion and attractions not strikingly different from today.  Shortly after Huntington Beach adopted its name, an oil boom began when several veins were discovered on the land near the beach. For approximately 100 years, the derricks, offshore platforms and pumps have dotted the terrain and appeared in the landscape of photographs. While the pumps surprisingly still sit next to houses, a hotel in the downtown region and are plentiful near the wetlands, many have been capped as the price of land goes up. This picture gallery includes an assortment of photos obtained through various sources and is brought to you for your enjoyment. We'd like to thank those who have contributed to the cause of helping educate and remind us of our roots in the West Coast Mecca.
 

 OFFICE OF JEWELRY BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN HUNTINGTON BEACH
 

 

Downtown Huntington Beach Main Street has seen thousands of businesses come and go. In this photo circa 1978, these local partners held a business meeting in their office on Main Street. They sold costume jewelry in nearby shops and markets, a popular trade in Huntington Beach, even today. The men wore the old OP-style shorts that are back in fashion in longer lengths now. The hairstyles that were mainstream for HB are now considered alternative. The striped socks are not seen in every day wear currently but thongs and tennis shoes are still extremely popular clothing attire. Huntington Beach continues to enjoy dress codes relaxed from the stricter standards of Madison Avenue or downtown Los Angeles. The laid back beach town maintains the sandy, ocean-close lifestyle.

Huntington Beach
Pier
 
 Hunting Beach
Arches
 
Huntington Beach
Pier
 
Red Car
 
 
Franklin Roosevelt
4th of July Parade
New Riders of the
Purple Sage
Golden Bear
 Robin William
Golden Bear
Linda Rondstadt
Golden Bear
John Mayall
Golden Bear

Kenny Rankin

Golden Bear
 Band
Golden Bear
Steve Martin
Golden Bear
 
Bachman Turner
Overdrive
Golden Bear
../Golden Bear building and signage from the 1980s
 

Golden Bear

 
Soap Box Derby
 
Huntington Beach
 
 
Main Street
Post Office
 
 
Realty Co. Office
 

Beach Carousel

 
Evangeline Hotel
 
Man on 3 while bike at Huntington Beach Pier
End of the Pier Cafe
John Gustafson
Huntington Surfer
 Surfing Huntington
 
 
Hoyt Axton
Golden Bear
Main Street Biz
 
Matthew Helme and His Family pose for photo in front of Historic Helme Building
Matthew Helme(15)
Helme Building
Salt Water Plunge
Huntington Beach
 

 

Back to Huntington Beach / Back to Main Photo Gallery

Those who have visited or lived in Huntington Beach for more than 10 years may remember the oil derricks along Pacific Coast Highway. Walking to the beach, surfers, tourists and locals all had to walk around them to get to the ocean. Finally, they were capped and none remain along the waterfront. Tourists often send emails asking if the oil platforms along the ocean are noticeable and create an atmosphere not pleasant for visiting. The answer is that while you will have these platforms in some of your scenic photos in which you include ocean vistas, they are situated offshore far enough that they are not strikingly noticeable. Today, you can see an occasional machine pumping oil near a house, at the wetlands or even along Edwards Hill and Golden West streets. But you will not see anything like the picture above, taken years ago.

 

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