Venice Canal Historic District

The Venice Canal Historic District is a residential enclave defined by six narrow, man-made saltwater canals that form a quiet grid of walkways and footbridges. Created in nineteen oh five by developer Abbot Kinney, these waterways were the centerpiece of his "Venice of America," a seaside resort designed to mirror the charm of Venice, Italy. Kinney’s vision for the area included gondoliers, arched bridges, and weekend cottages, intended to draw visitors away from downtown Los Angeles with a romanticized European escape.