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Historic Place of the
Month - April 2012
April’s Historic
Place of the Month was:
Old Topanga Canyon Road
Old Topanga Canyon Road has a long rich
history. With the close proximity of El Camino Real and later
Highway 101, Calabasas had access to a major north-south
transportation route from the late 1700s. What it did not have until
after U.S. statehood was access to the Pacific Ocean. Access came in
the form of a stagecoach trail linking Calabasas to the waterfront.
It was forged through the mountainous area to the city’s south and
became known as Old Topanga Canyon Road. The trail was formed circa
1865 and led from Calabasas to the beach just north of Pacific
Palisades. It became an important link between the San Fernando
Valley and Santa Monica in 1893, when the Long Wharf, part of the
original Port of Los Angeles, was built. Old Topanga Canyon Road
provided a vital route across the Santa Monica Mountains from the
wharf to Calabasas. The Port of Los Angeles was relocated in San
Pedro only a few years later in 1897, but the wharf continued to
operate until 1903.
Many of the early Calabasas homesteaders built houses along Old
Topanga Canyon Road. They have all been demolished with the
exception of the Masson House at 23075 Mulholland Highway, where
Mulholland intersects with Old Topanga Canyon. Residential
development occurred little by little through the early 20th century
along the route. Houses tended to be relatively small and vernacular
in style with gabled roofs and wood siding. The few that remain have
been expanded upon.
Old Topanga Canyon Road evolved into a paved road sometime after
1932. Prior to being paved, it was oiled to suppress dust. The
southern portion of the original trail and road, which is not within
Calabasas city limits, is now part of State Route (SR) 27, Topanga
Canyon Boulevard. SR 27 dates back to 1915 and became part of the
state highways system in 1933. Old Topanga Canyon Road is often
confused with SR 27, but SR 27 does not cross into Calabasas;
rather, it extends from Old Topanga Canyon Road in the community of
Topanga to the east and north into the neighboring community of
Woodland Hills and beyond. Today, Old Topanga Canyon Road extends
from its intersection with SR 27 to the north and west into
Calabasas where it crosses Mulholland Highway and becomes Valmar
Road. Despite its narrow, winding design, it remains a significant
route between Calabasas and the ocean. Old Topanga Canyon Road was
designated as Local Historic Landmark No. 4 and is eligible for the
National register of Historic Places.
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