Today is World Photo Day, marking the 177th anniversary of the invention of cameras as we know them today. To celebrate, we've pulled 19 cool photographs of Los Angeles from the digital archives available at the Los Angeles Public Library. We picked one per decade starting when cameras were first invented so you can see how photography—and the city—evolved! To continue your celebration, you might want to make your way to one of the city's many great galleries that specialize in photography.
1830s - Mission Hills
Early families in front of San Fernando Rey de España Mission
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1840s - Los Angeles
Living room of Don Francisco Avila, Mayor of Pueblo de Los Angeles
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1850s - San Pedro
Photo of Dead Man's Island in San Pedro
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1860s - Los Angeles
Los Angeles County Courthouse
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1870s - Los Angeles, CA
Carriage Ride in Elysian Park
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1880s - Los Angeles
Inauguration of cable cars on Broadway
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1890s - North Hollywood
Toluca Road (now Lankershim Boulevard)
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1900s - Los Angeles
The Belasco Theater
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1910s - Los Angeles
Chinese American voters rally for a candidate
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1920s - Burbank
Lockheed Air Express plane at Union Airport
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1930s - Los Angeles
Occidental College Archery Class
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1940s - Los Angeles
Parking lot price wars
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1950s - Los Angeles
Celebrating the 183rd birthday of Los Angeles
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1960s - Los Angeles
A bus waiting in Hollywoodland
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1970s - Santa Monica
A&W Drive In, Wilshire Boulevard
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1980s - Los Angeles
Anti-Khomeini protest at City Hall
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
1990s - Los Angeles
Abandoned field north of Chinatown
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
2000s - Los Angeles
Panoramic view of Downtown
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
2010s - Los Angeles
Rakestraw Memorial Community Education Center
Photograph: Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
Which was your favorite decade? Have some amazing LA shots of your own to add? Leave them in the comments section below!