Venice Beach History unfolds. Founding and Early Development (1905-1920s): Venice Beach was founded in 1905 by Abbot Kinney, a tobacco millionaire, as a seaside resort town modeled after Venice, Italy. It featured canals, gondolas, an amusement pier (Abbot Kinney Pier), and Venetian-style architecture. The Venice Short Line railway provided transportation. The Venice Miniature Railway, a large-scale miniature train, was another popular attraction. The area was initially extremely popular. Annexation and Decline of Amusement (1920s-1940s): By 1925, Venice was annexed by Los Angeles due to infrastructure issues and political challenges. The city subsequently dismantled many of the amusement attractions, including filling in most of the canals to accommodate increased automobile traffic. Oil was discovered in the area in 1929, leading to the development of numerous oil wells. World War II brought blackouts and wartime restrictions on the amusement piers. Post-War Evolution (1940s-Present): After WWII, Venice Beach evolved, with the rise of Muscle Beach,150
