Historical Photo of the Month - May 2007

Lunch Counter, 1947
Photograph Number JB-367

In 1944 Building 17 was just a shelter located near the east gate, large enough for two picnic tables. A food preparation area, a small counter, and stools were later added and it became known as the lunch counter. In the summer of 1947 the counter was extended to accommodate more of the Lab's 500 employees, as seen in the photo above. The lunch counter was enlarged again by August 1951, enclosed with canvas walls and several more picnic tables were added.

Also in August 1951 a modern cafeteria opened in Building 114, the present site of the JPL Store. It could seat 109 people and the Lab population by that time was more than 800. Even after the 114 cafeteria opened, the old lunch counter was used, especially by people working at the east end of the Lab. There is now a small parking lot where the lunch counter used to stand, northeast of Building 11. Building 121 near the east gate also served as a cafeteria during the 1960s.

[Archival sources: Photo albums and indexes, various issues of Lab-Oratory, JPL maps, and JPL telephone directories.] For more detailed information about the history of JPL, contact the JPL Archives for assistance.