Historic Los Angeles City Walk

Learn about the history of Los Angeles via a historic city walk– perfect for Architecture and history buffs.

On a recent trip to Los Angeles, I took a walk through the historic downtown. It’s a fascinating neighborhood packed with a wonderful mix of architecture from Art Deco to modern, that tells the history of Los Angeles from the 1890s to the present. 

Built mostly in the 1920s and 30s the area contains the largest concentration of theaters located within one city block in the USA. Take a walk down Broadway St—from beaux arts to art deco, it’s an architect’s dream come true.

The Tower Theater

Exploring Historic Downtown LA

Downtown LA was once the center of art and culture but the neighborhood was mostly abandoned by the 1990s. However, there is a movement to revitalize the area, and funding has been approved to install a downtown streetcar. 

There are rumors of big-name retailers like Urban Outfitters moving into the area as well. Many of the buildings are already being converted into lofts. Still, there are a lot of buildings that look only partially refurbished–this is a long term project.

Los Angeles City Walk: Broadway & 3rd

Detail, Million Dollar Theater

A great place to start your walk is at the corner of Broadway and 3rd. The Million Dollar Theater and the Grand Central Market are on one side, and the famous Bradbury Building is across the street.

The Bradbury is the oldest commercial building in Los Angeles. It is a working building so you can only visit the first floor. The beautiful French wrought iron, five-story atrium, and wood and terra cotta details were inspired by a futuristic novel from 1887 called, “Looking Backward,” by Edward Bellamy. Interesting anecdote, parts of the building were used in the science fiction film, Blade Runner.

Interior: The Bradbury Building

 Grand Central Market

Adjacent to the Million Dollar Theater is Grand Central Market, the oldest open-air market in Los Angeles and it’s still a hopping place. You can find everything from tacos to fresh fruit smoothies here.

Grand Central Market

Continue your Los Angeles city walk through Grand Central Market to the other side and cross the street to see the world’s shortest railroad, Angels Flight, a funicular built in 1901. Ride it to the top and experience a bit of L.A. history. 

Angels Flight

Walk back to Broadway to continue your tour.

 The Theater District 

The Los Angeles Theater was built in 1931 for 2,000,000 dollars! The owner went into debt pretty quickly, and Fox took over the theater until the 1980s. 

Historic Los Angeles Architecture Walk

The Palace Theater was built in 1911 and was one of the first of the Orpheum Vaudeville Theaters.

The Palace Theater, Broadway St.

Other Buildings of Historical Significance

 The Los Angeles Conservancy offers tours of the Broadway district. You’ll learn about the different styles of architecture and in some cases you’ll be able to tour the interiors of the theaters. The tour is only $25.00 and goes to a great organization. 

I like the photograph above for the color and variety of textures and architecture. The street lamp on the left side of the photograph is a style from the early 1900s. Street lamps were placed throughout the neighborhood in the 1920s. I think they add a lot of charm and character. This photograph was taken on Main Street, across from the Cathedral of St. Vibiana, another historic landmark of downtown Los Angeles.

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