Historic Downtown Walking Tour
The Historic Downtown tour provides an overview of the historical and cultural landmarks of downtown Los Angeles. Covering a wide range of architectural styles, and including anecdotes about the people behind the buildings, this tour is a great way to become acquainted (or re-acquainted) with the unique character of downtown L.A.
Historic Downtown, as the area around Pershing Square is known, is the heart of downtown. Some of the most beloved Los Angeles landmarks are in this area, such as the Central Library, Angels Flight, and the Bradbury Building. The history of the area goes back to the founding of the city in 1781, and its architecture tells the story of the growth of the city from the 1890s to the present, including the current trend of conversions of vintage office buildings into loft-style apartments and condos.
Places to Visit:
Pershing Square
Biltmore Hotel
Pacific Mutual Building *
Mayflower Hotel (now Hilton Checkers)
Southern California Edison Building *
Los Angeles Central Library
US Bank Tower
Title Guarantee and Trust Building
Subway Terminal Building *
Broadway Department Store (now known as the Junipero Serra State Office Building)
Angels Flight
Grand Central Market *
Bradbury Building *
(*Interiors visited, subject to availability)
Tour Organizer: The Los Angeles Conservancy – (213) 623-2489 – info@laconservancy.org
Tour Schedule: Every Saturday
Start time: 10:00 am
Length: 2-1/2 hours
Distance covered: About 1-1/2 miles total walking
Meeting Location: Pershing Square, located at Olive Street and 6th Street in downtown Los Angeles. Tour meets in the center of the park, near the mini-groves of orange trees.
