L O S   A N G E L E S   A Q U E D U C T   P H O T O G R A P H S

Between 1895 and 1930, Joseph Barlow Lippincott compiled over 5,000 photographs documenting the numerous waterworks projects in which he was involved. In July 1906 Lippincott left the Reclamation Service to join William Mulholland as assistant chief engineer of the Owens River Project. While serving as assistant chief engineer of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, Lippincott collected a series of photographs documenting the construction of the Aqueduct, from initial surveys of the Owens River Valley to delivery of water to Los Angeles. The photographs, many taken by Lippincott himself, illustrate the sparse beauty of the Valley, the enormity of the project, and the constructed elegance of the Aqueduct.

The Lippincott Collection contains more than 800 photographs documenting the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct from 1906 to 1914. They are housed in two albums (filed under "LIPP 141" and "LIPP 142"). A few low resolution samples are provided below. Digitization update: These photographs have been digitized and are available for viewing online from the Lippincott Collection's finding aid.

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Water Resources Center Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Click on the thumbnails to see full size images

Sunday in camp circa 1908	Downer's camp enroute, 6/25/07	Sand Canyon Siphon crossing, looking north, 8/07
Freighting outfit owned by the city, on the desert, 9/07	South portal of Elizabeth Lake tunnel, 9/07	Laying Cottonwood Siphon on steep side hills, 1/08
Machinery on site of cement mill, 3/08	Boilers for cement mill	Water pack train to saddle camp on Gray Ridge, 6/08
Kilns for cement mill, 4/08	Steam shovel no.1 going into position near Mojave, 8/08	Lining the conduit in Mojave Division, 10/08
Camp in Sun Canyon Jawbone Division, 11/08	Concrete lined conduit Mojave Division, 3/09	Putting cover on conduit in Mojave Division, 5/09
Dining room, Placerita Canyon camp	Whitney Siphon Saugus Division	Steel plates for Soledad Siphon showing relative size
52 animal team hauling steel for Jawbone Siphon	Soledad Canyon Siphon crossing under So. Pacific Railroad	Opening the Head Gates of the L.A. Aqueduct

This page/collection was highlighted by the California Learning Resource Center (CLRN) in an article for the Modesto Bee on April 13, 2004: Learning @ Home : Internet provides instant link to history. This page is listed as an entry in CLRN's Web Information Links database.

See WRCA's virtual exhibit, Liquid Gold for more examples of Lippincott's photographs.

Related links from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power:
  History of Water and Power in LA
  William Mulholland: The Man Who Built the Los Angeles-Owens River Aqueduct