19 Photos of Venice Beach Throughout the Years

Written by Alina Wang on June 10, 2025

A group of people in swimsuits perform impressive acrobatic stunts outdoors on a sunny day, forming human pyramids and lifts, while others watch. Colorful beach buildings are visible in the background.

A haven for poets, hippies, and street performers, Venice Beach has long been the place where bohemia meets the salty air of the Pacific. By the ’80s and ’90s, skateboarders and bodybuilders had taken over the boardwalk, turning Muscle Beach into an open-air gym and the skate park into a concrete mecca. These days, tech money and luxury condos sit alongside the same tattoo parlors, fortune tellers, and street vendors that have given the area its gritty charm for decades.

But through all the changes, Venice Beach still beats with the same wild, creative spirit. Here are 19 nostalgic photos that capture its soul through the years.

1. Rollerskating Along the Boardwalk, 1980s

A group of young people roller skating on a beachside path. The main focus is a woman in a black swimsuit and knee-high socks, with others skating behind her. The background shows benches, sand, and people sitting. — GoodGriefWhatsNext

2. ‘Venice Beach Boardwalk Circa 1940 With My Late Grandmother’

Black-and-white photo of three people standing together on a busy boardwalk, with shops, a water tower, and pedestrians in the background; handwritten text is partly visible at the bottom. — TriggerTX

3. ‘Old Venice Beach Postcard’

A large crowd of people in early 1900s attire gathers outside the entrance of an ornate auditorium building at Venice Pier, California. The scene is bustling with activity under an overcast sky. — bobbythegoose

4. ‘Beach Volleyball on Stilts, Venice Beach, 1934’

Five women play volleyball on the beach while standing on tall stilts, with one woman on the ground watching. The ocean and a ship are visible in the background under a mostly sunny sky. — pubwithnobeer

5. ‘Venice Beach, California, Before the Canals Were Filled in and the Buildings Were Demolished, 1906’

Historic black-and-white photo of a waterfront plaza with ornate buildings, people walking, and two small boats with passengers on the water in the foreground. Early 20th-century architecture and a festive atmosphere are visible. — moose098

6. ‘Venice Beach in the ’60s’

A man walks barefoot on a sandy beach playing guitar, while another person lies on the sand. In the background are palm trees and a multi-story building with a sign reading “Beach House.” — TransparentPress

7. A Group of Friends Hanging Out in Venice Beach, 1928

Four women in long skirts and blouses stand closely together outside on a dirt street near a building with a sign that reads "RESTAURANT." The scene appears to be from the early 1900s. — agnes238

8. A Man Gets a Sip of Water While a Couple Sits Nearby Chatting, 1979

A man and a woman sit on a low brick wall in conversation while another man drinks from a water fountain beside his bicycle; people play and relax in the background at a sunny outdoor park. — UserDeleted

9. ‘Venice Beach in the 1920s-1930s’

Black and white photo of an old beach with people on the sand and in the water, lined with many oil derricks and industrial buildings along the shoreline. — DrFetusRN

10. A Skater Gets Some Serious Air at the Skate Park, Circa 2000s

A skateboarder wearing a helmet performs a high jump trick in a skatepark, mid-air above other skaters who are sitting and watching. Several people stand and watch in the background under a cloudy sky. — UserDeleted

11. ‘Rollerskating at Venice Beach in 1979’

Three people in shorts and T-shirts roller skate on a sunny street lined with palm trees and buildings. More people walk, bike, and skate in the background, creating a lively, relaxed atmosphere. — Till80

12. ‘LA Street Vendors Celebrate the Removal of ‘No-Vending Restrictions’ in Huge Win Against City, 2024′

A group of people protest on a city sidewalk, holding signs and banners in English and Spanish about L.A.’s no-vending zones. A woman speaks at microphones in front of maps and posters, with palm trees and shops in the background. — Generalaverage89

13. ‘Cher Rollerskating at Venice Beach, 1979’

A woman with long dark hair roller skating outdoors at sunset, wearing a white leotard, purple scarf, and white roller skates. She is crouched low, smiling, with one arm extended for balance. — seitanworshiper

14. A Woman Turns Heads With Her Pet Snake, 1982

A group of young people in casual summer clothes gather around a woman in a bikini holding a large snake, while another woman sips a drink on a bench in an outdoor urban park setting. — DeadGrapez

15. Beachgoers Getting Some Sun, 1947

A crowded beach scene from the past shows people relaxing on towels, sunbathing, and socializing along the sandy shore. Many are in vintage swimsuits, with some standing and others sitting or lying on the sand. — Shorpy.com

16. Every Inch of Sand Is Accounted For, 1920s

A crowded beach scene in black and white, with hundreds of people in the water and on the sand. Many large umbrellas cover the shore, and buildings are visible in the background. — Shorpy.com

17. Sun’s Out, Gun’s Out: Arnold Schwarzenegger in Venice Beach, 1980

A muscular man wearing shorts and sneakers walks shirtless down a city street, carrying a jacket over his shoulder. A truck and buildings are visible in the background. The image is in black and white. — Fattybeards

18. Going for a Quick Workout at Muscle Beach in the ’70s

A group of acrobats perform balancing and flying stunts on a seesaw in front of a large audience outdoors, with buildings in the background. — Electrical-Aspect-13

19. ‘Make America Skate Again,’ 1979

A crowd of people roller skating outdoors, showing mostly their legs and skates. The skaters wear colorful socks, shorts, and pants, capturing a lively, retro atmosphere. — Till80

Looking for more summer fun?

Channel retro summer vibes with 10 Scenes From the Beach That Scream 1980s Summer, 23 Photos of Summer Vacation in the ’60s, and 17 Nostalgic Photos of Summer Cookouts.