Category: Postcards From Another Millennium

This image shows a shop called The Tuck Box in the main shopping district of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. It’s old English architecture has made it a landmark in Carmel for many decades.

The description states:
Unusual buildings like the one pictured on this post card make Carmel a most interesting and picturesque little city. There is a fairy tale atmosphere to these quaint Dolores Street shops which lend enchanting atmosphere to a trip through the town.
–Carmel-by-the-Sea was a small town when this image was produced and remains a small town today. It’s location on a steep hill leading down to the Pacific Ocean at Carmel Beach make it both a shopping destination and a vacation spot.
The name used here, The Tuck Box, was first used in the early 1940s, so this image likely dates from that time.

This image shows some of the commercial fishing boats at rest in the marina near the famous Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, California.

The description states:
1616–FISHING FLEET, SAN FRANCISCO,  CALIF.
San Francisco has a large commercial fishing fleet which makes Fisherman’s Wharf its home harbor. Here the bright painted boats and sun-browned fishermen are reminiscent of an Old World Port.
—This area around Fisherman’s Wharf has remained much the same over the decades, as evidenced by the continuing presence of both the restaurants visible in the background. This picture appears to be taken from the windows of the Castagnola’s Restaurant.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.

This image shows the Golden Gate TraveLodge Motel in San Francisco, California as it looked at night.

The description states:
GOLDEN GATE TRAVELODGE
2230 Lombard Street, San Francisco 23, California
Walnut 1-0664
28 units — on Highway 101
11/2 miles from Golden Gate Bridge
10 minutes from downtown San Francisco
5 minutes from Fisherman’s Wharf
Restaurants — Complete Shopping Area — walking distance
Recommended by Duncan Hines
AAA Approved
—A view of the location today shows that the building is still there and in use as a motel, but the TraveLodge has moved to another location.
This postcard likely dates from the 1950s.

This image shows the original tower of the main international airport for the San Francisco Bay Area, known by the assigned letters SFO.

The description states:
1665 — SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Situated on Bayshore Highway 14 miles south of San Francisco. One of the world’s newest and finest airports. Costing more than $15,000,000 it is equipped with all latest motivational and safety devices. Its many facilities include restaurant, coffee shop, newsstand, book shop, souvenier [sic] and gift shops.
–The two planes in the image are both propeller driven aircraft common in that era. The one on the left is most likely a Lockheed Constellation, based on its unusual three part tail design. The one in the foreground is possibly a Douglas DC-6, as this was a common aircraft for Pan Am in this era and location.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.

This view shows an early version of the layout of the main international airport for Los Angeles, known by the assigned letters LAX.

The description states:
LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Los Angeles, Calif.
Aerial view of Main Concourse. Destined to be the largest and most modern air terminal in the world.
–The look of the field is far different from the current appearance, as there have been several expansions and modifications. As this was before jetways, the planes do not park adjacent to any walking path. Instead, the passengers would walk out into the weather and up a rolling stairway. In addition, the planes visible are all propellor driven, indicating this image is from the 1950s.