View from Los Angeles City Hall, then and now

The changing downtown landscape as captured by two photographers shooting from the observation deck nearly six decades apart

1951: Looking west. The structure with the spire is the Richfield Building, and just to the right of it is steelwork for the new Statler Hotel, now the Wilshire Grand. (Ellis R. Bosworth / Associated Press)
2009: Skyscrapers on Bunker Hill dominate the view. The cluster of mid-rise buildings stretching across the middle of the photo is the Angelus Plaza senior citizens housing complex. The salmon-colored building is part of the Colburn School. (Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times)

1951: Looking toward Hollywood. The four-level interchange, with the new Hollywood Freeway leading away from it, can be seen. The large building in the background at left center is Queen of Angels Hospital. The Hollywood sign is on the hill at center background. (Ellis R. Bosworth / Associated Press)
2009: The view now includes the Department of Water and Power building, at left, the Music Center, county government buildings and the criminal courts building, at right. (Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times)

1951: Looking north. The building in the foreground is the Hall of Justice. Chinatown is at right. (Ellis R. Bosworth / Associated Press)
2009: The now-empty Hall of Justice is joined by the criminal courts building. Just beyond them is the silver and gray campus of the new L.A. Unified arts high school. Dodger Stadium is visible in the hills at center in the background. (Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times)

1951: Looking northeast. The large building with twin towers is the post office's Terminal Annex. To its right is Union Station, and in the background at right is County General Hospital. (Ellis R. Bosworth / Associated Press)
2009: The skyscraper is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority headquarters. The Federal Building is at right, and the mid-rise building between them is the Metropolitan Water District headquarters. (Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times)

1951: Looking southeast toward Little Tokyo and the industrial district. Bridges span the Los Angeles River in the background. (Ellis R. Bosworth / Associated Press)
2009: City Hall East, with its rooftop helipad, rises at left. (Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times)

1951: Looking southwest. In the foreground is the Los Angeles Times complex. (Ellis R. Bosworth / Associated Press)
2009: The latest addition to this scene is the new Los Angeles Police Department headquarters, left. (Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times)