Abbott Kinney (1850 – 1920) was a land developer who built a summer home in Santa Monica in 1886. The next year, he formed the Santa Monica Improvement Company and built a lawn tennis club. He purchased 247 acres of land to be developed as Santa Monica Heights in 1887 but abandoned the project due to the depressed economy at the time.
Instead, he bought a controlling interest in Pacific Ocean Casino, as well as a large tract of land along Santa Monica Beach. Along with his partner, Francis Ryan, they built the Santa Monica pier, a golf course, a racetrack, and the boardwalk.
When his partner died in 1898 his widow remarried. Her husband sold off his interest to a group that Kinney was not compatible with, but he won a coin flip for some marshy land that he planned to develop into what he envisioned as Venice of America. Today, the street Abbott Kinney is named after him.
Tourism in Santa Monica became huge after Ocean Park was built. It was known as the “Coney Island of the Pacific.” Visitors could take a trolley from Downtown Los Angeles that went as far as Santa Monica. Kinney installed 13 canals complete with gondolas and gondoliers who were brought in from Italy. They originally spanned over 16 miles. A steam railroad surrounded the park for visitors to enjoy and a breakwater was built to protect the area from high tides due to storms.
In 1911, Kinney convinced government officials to change the name of the area from Ocean Park to Venice.
The Venice Canals of Los Angeles
Today there are six canals rather than 13. Kinney named them Aldebaran, Altair, Cabrillo, Coral, Grand, Lion, and Venus. The other 7 canals were filled in after the area went into disrepair. It remained that way for 40 years until it was renovated in 1992. The Venice Canals was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and is now a high rent neighborhood of early 20th century and craftsman-style homes as well as ultra-modern ones.
It is a delightful place to take a stroll as each canal has sidewalks and pedestrian bridges. During Christmas and other occasions, the homes and boats are decorated and strewn with lights.
The canals are hidden away in Venice, so you must know where they are to find them. It’s best to go on a weekday as parking can be difficult. I found a free parking spot near Dell and 28th street and entered there. There are other entrances off Venice Blvd as well. Dell Ave has bridges you can drive over for a quick glimpse of the canals.
Interesting facts about the canals:
- When the homes were built on the canals, they didn’t have a sewer system so waste was dumped into the canals which caused them to stink. Sewers were eventually installed but sometimes algae take over the waterways and needs to be cleaned regularly.
- Ducks and swans live happily in the canals. I saw a few ducks fighting like mobsters when I was last there but they soon swam off amicably.
- The canals have been featured in a number of movies and television shows over the years, including “The Big Lebowski” and “Californication.”
Venice Beach can be crazy and has a homeless issue, but the canals are serene and tranquil. Overall, the Venice Canals are a unique and important piece of Los Angeles history that continue to captivate visitors and locals alike with their beauty and charm.
Venice Canals
28th and Dell Ave, Venice, California 90292
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