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THE
BIMINI BATHS was an important Los Angeles destination that occupied
almost the entire east side of Bimini Place for fifty years, from 1900
until 1950. It was first built in 1900 by Dr. David Edwards who decided
to take advantage of the natural hot springs that still exist in the ground
beneath the street today. Five years later, this original wooden structure
burned to the ground (see Los Angeles Herald article reprinted in this
exhibit). It was rebuilt more magnificent than before, with hot and cold
water pools, an upper floor gymnasium, café, game room and lots
more. The H street car brought tourists from downtown Los Angeles to Bimini.
Hollywood movie stars stayed in the apartment buildings and the grand
hotel across the street (all of which are still there!), and kids took
their first plunge in a pool at Bimini as there were few private and no
public swimming pools in Los Angeles at the time. For first hand descriptions
of the Baths from the inside out, please watch the story videos on our
web site or ask for DVD copy to watch here at the Bresee CyberCafe.
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