Six Historic Spots In Downtown Los Angeles

If you've got a few hours to spend in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA), you can easily cruise by six historic places that are located within a few blocks of each other! One of the many things I (Lara) love about DTLA is that everywhere you look you will see a piece of the past, and many buildings have been beautifully renovated and are enjoying an awesome second act. Wear some comfortable shoes, bring your water and sunscreen, and have fun! And for some terrific tours (self-guided and with an actual guide), check out the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Conservancy. Also, I cover 30 Old Hollywood-inspired places in my book, FROM THE CORNER OF HOLLYWOOD AND DIVINE. 

1. Pershing Square 532 South Olive Street

 
In the early 1900s, Pershing Square (which is exactly a block in size) was known as Central Park and filled with trees. Now, it is mainly concrete and the site of many musical performances and events, with a cool fountain in part of the park and playground areas for the kiddos. Le Pain Quotidien, Tender Greens, and Pitchoun! French bakery are in the nearby PacMutual Building; you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy it in the park while soaking up some sun.

2. Metro 417 (formerly the Subway Terminal Building) 417 South Hill Street

  Opened in 1926, the Subway Terminal Building once had 65,000 people passing through it each day! It was part of the Pacific Electric Railway system, and this line allowed people to bypass the busy streets of Downtown Los Angeles. Yes, even in the 1920s people were complaining about the traffic! The tunnel has been filled in for decades now, but the Italian Renaissance Revival building has found new life as Metro 417, a luxury apartment building.

3.  Grand Central Market 317 Broadway

 

Grand Central Market first opened in 1917 on the first-floor of the Homer Laughlin Building (architect Frank Lloyd Wright once had an office here), and offered the finest open-air shopping experience in Los Angeles. The wealthy folks that lived in the nearby (now demolished) Victorian mansions at the top of Bunker Hill would ride the Angels Flight Railway down the hill, pick up what they needed, and take the little train back up the hill. Today, you'll find restaurants, produce vendors, and specialty stands (we even spotted an herbal pharmacy). This is where you can fuel up with some strong java, and there are also public restrooms downstairs. 

4.  One Bunker Hill (formerly the Southern California Edison Building) 601 West Fifth Street

 Opened in 1931, this building features a classic Art Deco design, with setbacks, recessed and symmetrical windows, and strong vertical lines (representing progress). Also, as a nod to progress, there are decorative panels at the entrance with carved figures representing light, power, and hydroelectric energy. This was one of the first buildings in the U.S. to be electrically heated and cooled, which was life-changing in scorching DTLA in the summer. 

 

5. Los Angeles Central Library 630 West Fifth Street

Opened in 1926, the Central Library is still stunning, and most people would probably say that its most recognizable exterior feature is the pyramid with suns on each side. In addition to a full-on Egyptian influence, you will see lots of Art Deco details. And things just get better inside, with murals depicting the history of California, ornately patterned floors, and an art gallery. Check out the library store, café area for some fresh-squeezed juice, and (if you have kiddos) the wonderful children’s section complete with a puppet show theatre and tiny toddler amphitheatre. 

6. Millennium Biltmore Hotel 506 South Grand Avenue

Opened in 1923, the Biltmore Hotel (as it was originally known) is a wonderful hodgepodge of styles, from Mediterranean to Beaux Arts to Spanish-Italian Renaissance Revival. Between the crystal chandeliers, wood-beamed ceilings, frescos and murals, gorgeously embroidered tapestries and drapes, and a ton of bronze and gold, it is no wonder that the Biltmore hosted the Oscars in the ceremony’s early years; in fact, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded at a luncheon here in 1927. 

Walk through the Galleria that’s just off the lobby, and descend the large staircase into the hotel’s Rendezvous Court, which was the Biltmore’s original lobby. There’s a gently gurgling fountain in the middle of the room; this is where afternoon tea happens in the afternoon. I recommend making a reservation and getting your hands on some homemade scones and clotted cream!

Walk out the back doors of the Biltmore, and there’s Pershing Square! You’re right back where you started.