Archiving Connections: Uncovering Coastal History in the San Fernando Valley

While carefully digitizing a newly donated batch of antique glass plate slides, volunteers at the Burbank Historical Society made an unexpected discovery. Nestled among turn-of-the-century portraits of Valley citrus orchards and early aviation pioneers were a series of misfiled, beautifully preserved images—not of Burbank, but of Southern California’s turn-of-the-century coastal crown jewels: Ocean Park and Venice of America.