Arroyo Seco Parkway Now and Then

The Arroyo Seco was once untouched and untamed. It was a muse for many artists and craftsman looking for a "simpler way of life". Looking towards the Southwest Museum to the West, this photo was taken in 1937.

Ever wonder what the Arroyo used to look like before it was turned into a concrete flood channel? The photo below shows how it looked before 1937 when plans to build a Parkway began.

After the freeway was constructed in the 1940s, this photograph was taken near Shults Street, looking South.

Below is a photo taken in 1954. It shows the Pasadena freeway (now known as Arroyo Seco Parkway) at the Marmion Way exit. View is looking towards the North.

In the not so distant future, Cal Trans will work on the oldest freeway in the West.

See the image below for the State's "improvements" to the Parkway. Such changes include, a low concrete wall with "curve decoration" dividing the north and south bound sides. A guardrail with a "stone-like" stamped concrete base, chain-link and "historic-style" lamp posts.

What do you think?