Early Views of Bunker Hill (1930s - Present)
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| (ca. 1938)* - Aerial view of Bunker Hill and the Civic Center looking east. City Hall was the tallest building in Los Angeles for decades. Photo by Dick Whittington |
Historical Notes The development of Bunker Hill in Los Angeles during the 1950s and 1960s involved the transformation of the historic neighborhood from a residential area to a modern commercial and cultural center. In the early-to-mid 20th century, Bunker Hill had become a dilapidated area with many Victorian-era mansions converted into low-income housing and rooming houses. The city government and business leaders viewed it as a "slum" that needed to be redeveloped. |
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| (ca. 1938)* – Aerial view looking east over Bunker Hill toward City Hall, annotated with street names. |
Historical Notes In 1945, the California Community Redevelopment Law enabled cities to use eminent domain to condemn and demolish blighted districts. This led the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency to target Bunker Hill for redevelopment. The CRA argued that Bunker Hill was a "high frequency crime area" and a health hazard, which allowed them to win a court case against the residents and displace many families living there. Starting in the late 1950s, the city began implementing plans to demolish the existing buildings on Bunker Hill and redevelop the area. This included the construction of Dodger Stadium in the adjacent Chavez Ravine neighborhood, which displaced a Mexican-American community. |
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| (ca. 1939)* - Panoramic view of Bunker Hill as seen from City Hall. |
Historical Notes Initially a residential suburb, Bunker Hill retained its exclusive character through the end of World War I. Around the 1920s and the 1930s, with the advent of the Pacific Electric Railway and the construction of the freeway, and the increased urban growth fed by an extensive streetcar system, its wealthy residents began leaving for enclaves such as Beverly Hills and Pasadena. Bunker Hill's houses were increasingly subdivided to accommodate renters. Bunker Hill was at this time "Los Angeles's most crowded and urban neighborhood". By World War II, the Pasadena Freeway, built to bring shoppers downtown, was taking more residents out. Additional postwar freeway construction left downtown comparatively empty of both people and services. The once-grand Victorian mansions of Bunker Hill became the home of impoverished pensioners. Over time, these tenements became more prominent, and apartment buildings started being built alongside these houses. As more and more people crowded into these cheap housing units, the population of the hill increased 19%, most of whom were low income. |
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| (ca. 1939)* - Panoramic view of Bunker Hill as seen from City Hall (Right Panel). |
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| (ca. 1939)* - Panoramic view of Bunker Hill as seen from City Hall (Left Panel). Second Street Tunnel can be seen in center of photo. |
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| (ca. 1937)^* - View looking northwest from City Hall tower over the Hall of Records. Bunker Hill is covered with multiple dwellings. |
Historical Notes The prominent street running diagonally up from the lower right corner is Temple Street coming from the intersection with Broadway (barely seen, lower right corner). This baroque rooftop in the bottom of the image is the Hall of Records which reaches through from Spring Street all the way to Broadway. Court Street can be seen running directly away from the camera near the left edge. At lower-left, can be seen Court Flight running from the eastern terminus of Court Street down to Broadway (out of view). Mount Lee and the Hollywood Hills are seen in the distance where the elongated white smudge near the top of the ridge is the Hollywoodland Sign. |
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| (ca. 1940)* – Postcard aerial view looking northwest showing City Hall and the Civic Center. The State Building and Hall of Records can be seen on Spring Street at center-left. The Hall of Justice, Federal Courthouse and U.S. Post Office Building (built in 1940), and International Bank Building are at center-right on Temple Street (to the right of City Hall). Bunker HIll at upper-left is still covered with residential buildings. |
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| (1943)* – Night view looking west toward Bunker Hill as seen from the observation deck of City Hall with the LA County Hall of Records in the foreground. All the streets are lit up including Broadway (running left to right at bottom), Temple Street (right), and Court Street (running away from the camera at center). |
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| (1945)* - Aerial view over Bunker Hill looking east toward the Los Angeles Civic Center before construction of the Hollywood and Harbor freeways. Temple Street is on the left running away from the camera. Court Street is on the right running toward the Old Hall of Records and City Hall buildings. A small section of First Street can be seen at upper-right. Figueroa Street runs horizontally at bottom. |
Historical Notes The California Community Redevelopment law of 1945 allowed counties and cities to create and implement agencies to help deal with the redevelopment of local cities. Along with political factors, other things which led to the conclusion of the blighted neighborhood. The Los Angeles Police Department called the area a "high frequency crime area", due to the fact that the area's apartments catered to known offenders. The health department of Los Angeles also called the area a health hazard for its city. It wasn't until the CRA had won an ongoing court case against the residents of Bunker Hill. This loss for the residents of Bunker Hill led to the displacement of many families and removal of many of the low income residents of the area. This victory for the CRA led to them being able to buy land to redevelop as they saw fit. Within the plans for the redevelopment, there was a section for the rehabilitation of the buildings of Bunker Hill. The section was slated to preserve the historical buildings of Bunker Hill, but instead were demolished since there was no actual rehabilitation planned. |
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| (1946)* - Bunker Hill looking east toward City Hall. |
Historical Notes The above photo was taken by Walter Sanders for LIFE Magazine, for their series on American neighborhoods falling into disrepair, which they titled “Ugly America.” |
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| (1949)* - Aerial view showing the construction of the four-level interchange (top of photo). Note that Bunker Hill is still covered with apartment buildings and houses. |
Historical Notes The development of Bunker Hill caused much controversy. The creation of the Public Works Administration and the 1949 U.S. Federal Housing Act helped quickly to clear and acquire the land on which "slum and blighted" areas of Downtown's Bunker Hill were situated. The city cleared the land and sold this land to private and public development according to the plan made by the CRA.* |
Bunker Hill (NW Section)
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| (1951)* – View looking northwest from the top of the Hall of Records showing Bunker Hill as it appeared in the early 1950s. The Four Level Interchange is seen under construction at center-right. Parking lots fill the void where apartment houses once stood. Court Street is seen at left running away from the camera. At lower-right is the instersection of Temple and Hill streets. At lower-center is the northern terminus of the Hill Street Tunnels. The Hollywood Hills and Hollywood Sign can be seen in the distance. |
Historical Notes Over the next dozen years Bunker HIll would undergo a major transformation. The hill would be graded to make room for the new Civic Center expansion which would inlcude the construction of new City and County buildings, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, and the Department of Water and Power General Office Building. |
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| (1951)* – View looking northwest from the top of the Hall of Records showing Bunker Hill as it appeared in the early 1950s. |
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| (2022)* - Google Earth view of Bunker Hill (North) with the Hollywood Hills in the background. |
Then and Now
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| (1951 vs. 2022)* - Looking toward the Hollywood Hills over Bunker Hill (North). |
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| (ca. 1953)* - Aerial view of the northern edge of Bunker Hill and the remnants of Fort Moore Hill. In the foreground, the roof of the Hall of Records is visible on the left, with the corner of Broadway and Temple streets on the right. In the background, freeway construction has largely decimated Fort Moore Hill, leaving only the south portal of the Pacific Electric tunnel. Court Street is seen facing the camera on the left. Photo by Arnold Hylen. |
Before and After
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| (1937 vs 1953)* - Spring Street looking north from 7th Street. Note the horse-drawn wagon parked at the curb under an ornate 5-globe streetlight. Image enhancement and colorization by Richard Holoff. |
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| (1954)* - Temple Street looking west. The northern terminus of the Hill Street Tunnels is seen center-left with cars parked on top. In the distance at upper-right can be seen the St. Angelo Hotel located on the west side of Grand Avenue just north of Temple Street. This would be current site of the Ahmanson Theatre. |
Historical Notes The first of the two Hill Street Tunnels was bored through a part of Bunker Hill in 1909 by Los Angeles Pacific (a predecessor of Pacific Electric). It connects Hill Street from Temple to 1st streets. In 1913, the second tunnel (on the left) was bored for streetcar traffic. Click HERE to see more. |
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| (ca. 1954)* - Panoramic view looking northwest, showing Olive Street intersecting with Temple Street at the upper center-right. The St. Angelo Hotel is visible in the left background on Grand Avenue. The foreground marks the future site of the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration. The future site of the Music Center, where the St. Angelo Hotel currently stands, is in the background at the upper left. Parking lots are visible throughout. |
Historical Notes The abundance of parking lots in the early 1950s marks a transitional phase between the older residential character of Bunker Hill and the massive redevelopment projects that began later in the decade. These parking lots served as temporary placeholders, indicating land already earmarked for more substantial changes. |
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| (1950s)* – View looking southwest over the Hollywood Freeway towards the eastern edge of Bunker Hill, showing parking lots throughout. The Victorian-style structure seen in the distance is the St. Angelo Hotel, located at 237 N. Grand Avenue, near the southwest corner of Temple Street and Grand Avenue, where the Music Center stands today. |
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| (1953)* - Looking west from across Temple Street towards the former St. Angelo Hotel, 4-story Queen Anne Revival style building located at 237 N. Grand Avenue. A banner hanging from the building reads: "This building not to be removed. Vacancies". A parking lot with several cars is directly across the street. |
Historical Notes The St. Angelo Hotel at 237 North Grand Avenue was built during the boom of the 1880s when it was advertised as a European family-and-tourist rooming house. During the next few decades, the hotel and its guests were mentioned in the society pages. Despite the hotel's shabby condition, it stood proudly on the Hill until the board of health ordered it vacated in 1956. All traces of the once grand hotel were soon erased and replaced by the Music Center which was dedicated in 1964. |
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| (1954)* - Aerial view looking southeast over the newly constructed four-level interchange showing Bunker Hill (center-right), future home of both the DWP General Office Building (GOB) and the Music Center. |
Historical Notes The Four Level Interchange was the first stack interchange in the world. Completed in 1949 and fully opened in 1953 at the northern edge of Downtown Los Angeles, it connects U.S. Route 101 (Hollywood Freeway and Santa Ana Freeway) to State Route 110 (Harbor Freeway and Arroyo Seco Parkway). |
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| (1954)* - Aerial view looking southeast across the four-level interchange and Bunker Hill showing the futue home of the General Office Building. |
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| (1954)* - View looking southeast showing Bunker Hill and a portion of Los Angeles civic center. Note how most of the buildings on Bunker Hill have been removed and replaced by parking lots. |
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| (ca. 1954) - Bunker Hill parking lot. |
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| (1956)** - Panoramic photograph composite taken from the City Hall tower, facing west to northwest towards Bunker Hill and Hollywood. Bunker Hill has been slightly shaved off to make room for the County Courthouse, which is under construction, as well as several parking lots. There are still a few remaining dwellings at the far end of Bunker Hill. | Broad |
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| (1956)* – View looking northwest from above Hill Street towards Grand Avenue and Bunker Hill showing the early stages of construction on the Los Angeles County Courthouse. 1st Street is on the left and the building with the turret in the upper-left is the Seymour Apartments. |
Historical Notes Los Angeles County had gone nearly twenty-six years without a dedicated courthouse structure after the previous 1891 sandstone courthouse was damaged in the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. The Los Angeles Times noted that the architects of the present courthouse, which is home to both municipal courts and superior courts, designed it to last 250 years. |
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| (1956)**^ – View looking northeast showing the steel framing of the new County Courthouse located on the north side of First Street between Grand Avenue and Hill Street. In the distance (upper-right) can be seen the Hall of Justice, Federal Building, and the Hall of Records. In the foreground is a row of apartment buildings on the south side of First Street. The building with the turret in the right foreground is the Seymour Apartments (S/W corner of First and Olive). |
First and Olive
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| (1957)* – View looking west on 1st Street at Olive Street with the Seymour Apartments on the southwest corner. All the buildings on the south side of 1st Street will be demolished within a year. |
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| (1957)* – View looking northwest showing the Seymour Apartments (S/W corner of 1st and Olive) shortly before the building was demolished. Across 1st Street can be seen the County Courthouse under construction. |
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| (ca.1950)* – View looking west on 1st Street at Olive Street toward the top of Bunker Hill. |
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| (1945)* – Close-up view of the northwest corner of First Street and Olive Avenue, today the side entrance to the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. |
Then and Now
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| Then and Now – Looking west on 1st Street at Olive Street.* |
Historical Notes It should be noted that the top of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is about where the bottom of the buildings on the older shot is. They did not just remove the buildings, they also carved off the top of the hill. |
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| (1955)* - Buildings in Los Angeles Civic Center are barely visible in picture looking east at 1st and Olive Streets when smog was at its peak. Photo by John Malmin / Los Angeles Times |
Historical Notes Air pollution reached its worst levels in Los Angeles during the 1940s and 1950s. Millions of people driving millions of cars plus temperature inversion provided Los Angeles with a near perfect environment for the production and containment of photochemical smog. |
Then and Now
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| (1955 vs. 2016)* - Looking east on 1st Street at Olive Street in DTLA. Two things to note here: (1) Air Quality change since 1955 (top photo) and (2) How much 1st Street (Bunker Hill) was shaved down. |
Historical Notes By the mid 1950s there was no doubt among scientists that cars were a primary factor in LA’s smog crisis. It wasn't until 1975 that the U.S. required new cars to have catalytic converters, teh key piece of technology that allowed everything to change. Click HERE to see more Smog in Early Los Angeles. |
First and Grand
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| (1945)* - Looking east on First Street from Grand Avenue towards Olive, with City Hall and the California State Building visible over the hill on the left. |
Then and Now
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| (1945 vs 2022)* - Looking east on First Street from Grand Avenue. |
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| (1954)* – Looking SW toward the intersection of Grand and 1st streets. On the SW corner can be seen two house addressed 103 and 109 South Grand Avenue. At right, NW corner, is the Grand Central Hotel at 101 North Grand Avenue. Photo by Palmer Conner |
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| (ca. 1955)* - Looking north across the intersection of W. First Street (running from middle left to lower right) and N. Grand Avenue towards an apartment building, located at 601-603 W. First Street, with Grand Grocery occupying the ground floor; on the far left is the Queen Anne Revival style apartment house at 609-611. Directly to the right of the market is the New Grand Cleaners on the ground floor of the Grand Central Hotel at 103-107 N. Grand Avenue and another apartment building with the addresses of 109, 109 1/2, 111, and 111 1/2. |
Then and Now
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| (1954 vs. 2022)* – View looking toward the SW corner of Grand Avenue and 1st Street...present site of the Disney Concert Hall. |
Then and Now
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| (1955 vs 2022)* - Looking at the NW corner of Grand Avenue and 1st Street....present site of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. |
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| (1955 vs 2023)* - Looking at the NW corner of Grand Avenue and 1st Street....present site of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. |
Hill and 1st Street (Looking NE)
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| (ca. 1953)* - Looking northeast across the intersection of W. First (foreground) and N. Hill streets (running diagonally from left to lower right), showing the Los Angeles County Law Library (right), the Law Building at 139 N. Broadway and the bridge to its parking lot (upper right and center) and the Hill Street Tunnels in the left background. |
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| (ca. 1954)* - The footbridge to the Law Building from parking lot. The former Bixby house (a multi-family dwelling since circa 1914) had been cleared in 1953. |
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| (2021)* – Looking NE at the intersection of Hill and 1st streets. |
Then and Now
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| (1953 vs 2021)*– Looking NE at the intersection of Hill and 1st streets. |
Hill and 1st Street (Looking SW)
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| (ca. 1953)* – Looking at the SW corner of Hill and 1st streets showing the El Moro Hotel (upper left), a parking lot, a Texaco service station and car wash (right of center). Also, Hotel Gladden (upper right) can bee seen at the SW corner of Olive and 1st streets. |
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| (2021)* – Looking at the SW corner of Hill and 1st streets where today stands a Metro Station. |
Then and Now
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| (1953 vs 2021)* – Looking at the SW corner of Hill and 1st streets where today stands a Metro Station. |
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| (1955)* – View looking west on 1st Street at Hill Street showing a Texaco service station at the SW corner with the El Moro Hotel above it. Further up 1st Street is the Hotel Gladden, SE corner of Olive and 1st. To the right is the construction site of the new Los Angeles County Courthouse. Photo by Palmer Conner |
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| (2023)* – Looking west on 1st Street at Hill Street. |
Then and Now
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| (1955 vs 2023)* – Looking west on 1st Street at Hill Street in DTLA. |
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| (ca. 1960)^^^ - View looking n/w from City Hall toward Bunker Hill prior to construction of the GOB and Music Center. |
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| (ca. 1970)^^^ - View of from City Hall looking northwest after construction of the GOB and Music Center. |
Before and After
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| (ca. 1960)* – Aerial view looking east showing Bunker Hill and the Los Angeles Civic Center. The flattened land on Bunker Hill at center left is where the Music Center and DWP Building would be constructed in the early 1960s. The Harbor Freeway is seen in the foreground and First Street is the diagonal street running from lower left to upper right. |
Historical Notes The Music Center and Water and Power Building would not be completed until 1965. The Harbor Freeway opened in 1952 from the Four Level Interchange south to 3rd Street. |
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| (2022)* - Google Earth View showing Bunker Hill and the Civic Center. |
Historical Notes The redevelopment of Bunker Hill in the 1950s and 1960s transformed it from a residential neighborhood to a commercial and cultural center, with the construction of high-rise office buildings, theaters, museums, and other institutions like the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. |
Then and Now
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| (1960 vs. 2022)* - Aerial view looking east showing Bunker Hill and the Los Angeles Civic Center. |
Then and Now
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| (1945 vs. 2022) - Aerial view over Bunker Hill looking east toward the Los Angeles Civic Center. Temple Street is on the left running away from the camera. |
Then and Now
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| (1951 vs. 2022) - Aerial view looking down toward Bunker Hill. |
Before and After
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Then and Now
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2nd and Olive Streets
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| (ca. 1950)* - View looking northeast from south side of 2nd Street between Olive Street and Grand Avenue. Shows nearby houses and apartments, with downtown buildings and City Hall in the distance. |
Historical Notes The beautiful Queen Anne style residence on the left was the Koster House. It was located at 507 W. Second Street. On the right is the mansared-roofed Argyle Hotel/Apartments located on the NE corner of Olive and 2nd streets. |
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| (ca. 1950)* - View looking east at northeast corner of Second and Olive Streets. Automobiles are parked in the foreground next to two gasoline pumps and on Olive Street. The mansared-roofed Argyle Hotel/Apartments are located at the corner, near other Victorian-era houses. City Hall tower is visible in the left distance. |
Historical Notes The Argyle Hotel, the oldest hotel on Bunker Hill, built in the 1870s and located on the northeast corner of 2nd and Olive Streets. It was demolished along with the two beautiful homes to its left in the 1960s to make way for a parking lot which still exist today (Click HERE for contemporary view). |
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| (ca. 1950)* - Looking at the northeast corner of 2nd and Olive Streets showing the mansard-roofed Argyle Hotel/Apartments, containing a laundry and a grocery. City Hall is seen at right. |
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| (1955)* – City Hall as seen from the south side of 2nd Street looking over the Olive Street roofline with light in eastern sky peeping through low overcast.; Caption slip reads: "Photographer: Wesselmann. Date: 1955-03-11 |
Historical Notes The above street light is a Union Metal UM-1747 "Pacific" model with GE Form 18-B lanterns. They were found all over Bunker Hill until the neighborhood was bulldozed into oblivion. Only one Bunker Hill example survives as of 2021. It's on the East side of Olive Street, just South of 4th Street. Click HERE to see more 'Pacific' UM 1747 dual-lamp streetlights (Contemporary Views) |
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| (ca. 1965)* – A decorative dual-lamp ‘Pacific’ (UM-1747) stands in front of the Koster House, a Queen Anne style residence at 507 W. Second Street on Bunker Hill. The Los Angeles Times Building, and City Hall are seen in the distance on the right. Also seen is a parking lot where the Argyle Hotel once stood. |
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2nd Street (Between Grand Ave and Olive St - Chaspeak Apartments)
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| (1950)* – A man walks downhill in front of two Victorian-style apartment houses at 508 and 512 West Second Street. The house on the left features twin angled bays and a porch, while the one on the right (Chaspeak Apartments) has square bays and twin towers. Photo by Arnold Hylen. |
Historical Notes The Chaspeak Apartments at 512 W. Second Street appeared in the 1946 noir classic "Somewhere in the Night" and were featured again at the conclusion of "The Days of Wine and Roses" in the early 1960s. They also served as the model for Bandini's boarding house in Robert Towne's 2006 adaptation of John Fante's Ask the Dust. The apartment buildings at 508 and 512 West Second Street were among several residential structures that once formed part of a vibrant working-class neighborhood on Bunker Hill in early to mid-20th century Los Angeles. |
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| (1950)* – A view of the Victorian-style Chaspeak Apartments 512 West Second Street on Bunker Hill, situated between Grand Avenue and Olive Street. The structure features square bays, twin towers, and an ornate circular arch entrance. Photographer Arnold Hylen captured this scene and can be seen walking downhill in front of the building. |
Historical Notes Bunker Hill, originally an elite residential enclave in the late 19th century, transitioned into a lively working-class neighborhood by the 1920s. The area became home to a diverse population, including immigrants from Mexico, Europe, and various parts of the United States. The Victorian-era houses and apartment buildings, like the one at 512 West Second Street, were often subdivided to accommodate more residents, reflecting the changing demographics and increased urban density of the area. |
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| (2024)* – Contemporary view of the south side of 2nd Street between Grand Avenue and Olive Street, home to the Coburn School of Performing Arts. |
Historical Notes The Colburn School of Performing Arts is a prestigious performing arts institution in downtown Los Angeles's Bunker Hill, offering comprehensive music and dance education since 1950. Located near Walt Disney Concert Hall, the school provides pre-collegiate and professional training across multiple divisions, including a Conservatory of Music and Dance Institute. Currently undergoing a $335-million expansion by Frank Gehry, Colburn is renowned for its world-class faculty, competitive admissions, and full-scholarship programs that attract talented performing artists from around the world. |
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| (1950 vs. 2024)* – View showing the Chaspeak Apartments at 512 W. 2nd Street, now the site of the Coburn School of Performing Arts. |
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Grand and 2nd Street
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| (1957)* – View looking at the Richelieu and Melrose Hotels from the corner of 2nd Street and Grand Avenue. Both hotels were razed shortly after this photo was taken. |
Historical Notes The Richelieu house was originally constructed for Robert Larkins, who may have initially used it as his residence. By the early 1890s, however, it had transitioned into a boarding house known as the Richelieu. This change occurred during a time when Bunker Hill was shifting from an exclusive residential area into a more diverse neighborhood, blending mansions with apartment buildings. The Richelieu featured several distinctive elements, including a carved panel with a tricolor design bearing the initials "RL" for Robert Larkins, intricate shingle work on the roof, and hanging plants adorning the porch, as seen in early photographs. The Richelieu became a well-known boarding house by 1900, run by the Epperson family and accommodating numerous boarders. |
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| (1957)* - The Melrose Hotel and Hotel Richelieu at Grand Avenue and Second Street. Photo by George Mann, courtesy of Dianne Woods and the George Mann Archives. |
Historical Notes The Hotel Melrose started as a Victorian mansion in 1881. Decorated with overlapping shingles, cupolas, and domes, it eventually became a hotel apartment. When built, the hotel proper was attached to the mansion which became its annex. |
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| (1957)* - A view of the Melrose Hotel and Hotel Richelieu on the east side of Grand Avenue, just north of Second Street on Bunker Hill. Today, the site is occupied by The Grand LA, with its 45-story residential tower and 28-story Conrad Los Angeles hotel. Photo by George Mann, courtesy of Dianne Woods and the George Mann Archives. |
Historical Notes Hotel Richelieu was built in late 19th century. It was the home of Richard A. Larkin. In 1893, Mrs. Helen Larkin sold it to Chicago businessman Charles S. Hord who pledged to refurbish the building into a first-class hotel. The Richelieu was razed shortly before the Melrose in 1957. |
Then and Now
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| (1957 vs. 2021)* - Looking north on Grand Avenue at 2nd Street, showing The Grand LA development, which includes a 45-story residential tower and the 28-story Conrad Los Angeles Hotel, now standing where the Melrose and Richelieu hotels once stood. |
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| (1957)* - One of the last photos taken of the former Bunker Hill hotels on S. Grand Avenue; from left to right, the Melrose Hotel "Annex" (at 120), the original Melrose (at 130), and a glimpse of the Richelieu Hotel (at 142). |
Historical Notes The Richelieu was a prominent Victorian house located at 142 South Grand Avenue. Built in 1888 for Robert Larkins, it featured a distinctive architectural style characterized by variegated shingles, ornate gables, and expansive porches adorned with intricate spindlework. Initially serving as a private residence, the house transitioned into a boarding house by the early 1890s, reflecting the evolving character of Bunker Hill as it transformed from an exclusive residential area into a more diverse neighborhood. The Richelieu became a well-known boarding house by 1900, run by the Epperson family and accommodating numerous boarders. Despite its historical significance, the Richelieu was demolished in 1957 as part of urban renewal efforts that aimed to reshape Bunker Hill. This redevelopment led to the loss of many historic structures in the area, marking the end of an era for one of Los Angeles' most notable Victorian homes. Click HERE to see more on the Melrose and Richelieu Hotels. |
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| (1957)* – Long shot of Melrose Hotel to be torn down after 75 years with City Hall tower in background. View is from the future home of the Disney Hall. Photo Date: April 8, 1957. |
Before and After
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Then and Now
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| (1957 vs. 2021) - Looking toward the east side of Grand Avenue between 1st and 2nd streets, where two of the most stunning Queen Anne Victorian buildings once stood, the Melrose and Richelieu Hotels. |
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| (1960)* – View looking southwest from the L. A. County Courthouse at 1st and Grand showing a large empty lot sitting on top of Bunker Hill. This will become the site of the Walt Disney Concert Hall (completed in 2003). The multi-story building with the dome seen in the upper-left is the Dome_Hotel and Apartments (S/W corner of 2nd and Grand). Today, the Broad Contemporary Art Museum stands at |
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| (1960)* – Closer view showing the Dome Hotel and Apartments (built in 1903) on the southwest corner of 2nd and Grand. The lot to the right is the future location of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. In the background through the haze and smog can be seen the Richfield Oil Company Building which was demolished in 1969 to make way for the ARCO Towers. |
Historical Notes On the morning of July 25, 1964, the Dome burst into flames. The building would be razed later that year to make room for a parking lot which existed until 2014 when construction began for the Broad Contemporary Art Museum (completed in 2015). |
Then and Now
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| (1963 vs. 2024)* - Looking at the southwest corner of Grand Avenue and 2nd Street, where the Dome Apartments once stood, today the site of The Broad Contemporary Art Museum, also known as The Broad. |
Historical Notes The Broad Contemporary Art Museum, founded by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, opened in Los Angeles on September 20, 2015, showcasing their extensive collection of over 2,000 contemporary artworks from the 1950s to the present. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the museum features a unique "veil-and-vault" architecture and offers free general admission to promote public access. |
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| (1963)* – View looking South on Grand Ave at 1st Street with the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (right) and the L. A. County Courthouse (left). In the distance can be seen the AT&T Madison Complex Tandem Office Building and the Dome Hotel and Apartments. |
Then and Now
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| (1963 vs. 2019)* – Grand Avenue looking South toward First Street. |
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| (ca. 1955)* – Looking southwest across the intersection of Temple Street (foreground) and N. Grand Avenue (left) towards the Cadena Hotel located at 600 Temple Street; Cadena's Market occupies the ground floor. On the far right is the Art Deco style building at 610-614 Temple Street occupied by the offices for the Federation of Jewish Welfare Organizations, and on the far left, a portion of the former St. Angelo Hotel is visible. |
Then and Now (Grand and Temple Street, SW Corner)
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| (1955 vs. 2021)* – Looking at the SW corner of Temple Street and Grand Avenue, current location of the Ahmanson Theatre. |
Then and Now (Grand and 1st Street, SW Corner)
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| (1954 vs. 2022)* – View looking toward the Southwest corner of Grand Avenue and 1st Street...present site of the Disney Concert Hall. |
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Flower and 1st Street
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| (1955)* - A view of Victorian-era apartment houses on the southwest corner of 1st and Flower Streets in Bunker Hill. Today, this site serves as the entryway to Bunker Hill Tower and the Promenade West Condominiums, directly across the street from the DWP building. Photo by Arnold Hylen. |
Historical Notes In the 1950s, Bunker Hill was defined by Victorian-era apartment houses and hotels, many of which were originally grand mansions from the late 19th century. By the mid-20th century, these once-stately structures had fallen into disrepair and were repurposed as low-income housing and rooming houses. |
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| (1955)* - Closer view of the Victorian-era apartment building at southwest corner of First and Flower Streets on Bunker Hill. Photo by Arnold Hylen. |
Historical Notes Many of the apartment houses in Bunker Hill were originally single-family residences built in the 1890s, later subdivided into multiple units. The area was renowned for its ornate architecture, with wooden-frame Victorian structures adorned with Gothic gingerbread touches. By the 1950s, these once-prestigious buildings had deteriorated and been converted into cheap apartment hotels, accommodating a working-class population. |
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| (1955)* – A close-up of the dilapidated bay window and tower of an apartment building on the southwest corner of 1st and Flower Streets. Photo by Arnold Hylen. |
Historical Notes By the 1950s, Bunker Hill's Victorian-era mansions, originally built in the 1880s, had deteriorated into low-income housing and rooming houses. |
Then and Now
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| (1955 vs. 2023)* – A "Then and Now" comparison of the southwest corner of 1st and Flower Streets in Bunker Hill, once home to Victorian-era apartment houses. Today, this site serves as the entryway to Bunker Hill Tower and the Promenade West Condominiums, located directly across the street from the DWP building. |
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Flower Street (Bunker Hill)
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| (1965)* – View looking north on Flower Street from 4th Street, through the former Bunker Hill neighborhood. The newly constructed Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and DWP Building are seen at upper right on Hope and 1st streets. The street between Flower and Hope running down from 2st Street is Cinnabar Street, no longer in existence. The Stanley Hotel and Apartments can be seen on Flower Street and 2nd Street a block south of the DWP building. Photo by William Reagh. |
Historical Notes Today, Flower Street curves to the right at 3rd Street and merges with Hope Street at 2nd Street. Cinnabar Street, seen at upper-right between Flower Street and Hope Street, no longer exists today. Bunker Hill Tower would be constructed across from the DWP building in 1968. |
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| (1966)* - View looking north on Flower Street from the 4th Street Bridge showing the DWP Building at top of Bunker Hill. Pigeons are seen resting on the overhead lines and pole at right. Ornate two-lamp streetlights run up both sides of the street. At center can be seen the Stanley Hotel and Apartments on the SE corner of Flower and 2nd streets. Photo by Lin Cariffe |
Historical Notes The Department of Water and Power Building was built between 1963 and 1965. Click HERE to see more. |
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| (1966)* – View looking north showing the demolition of the Stanley Hotel and Apartments at the SE corner 2nd & Flower streets, exposing the newly built DWP Building one block to the north. Photo by Lin Cariffe |
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| (ca. 1967)* – View looking north as seen from the SW corner of 1st and Hope streets with the DWP Building across the street on the left and Music Center in the distance on the right. |
Then and Now
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| (1967 vs 2024) – View looking north as seen from the SW corner of 1st and Hope streets with the DWP Building across the street on the left and Music Center in the distance on the right. Contemporary photo by Jack Feldman |
DWP Building and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
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| (1963)* - Aerial view looking east showing Bunker Hill with the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and DWP building under construction. To the southeast are empty lots one of which will be the future home of the Disney Concert Hall. |
Historical Notes Designed by the architectural firm A.C. Martin and Associates in the International Style, the 17-story DWP building was completed in 1965. Situated on Bunker Hill, the building occupies one of the most visible locations in downtown LA, facing City Hall. Click HERE to see more. |
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| (1967)* - The Department of Water and Power building and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion as seen from a parking lot to the southeast, now the location of the Disney Concert Hall. |
Historical Notes Completed in 1964, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was the first and largest of the four venues that make up the Los Angeles Music Center. Designed by architect Welton Becket in a modern style, it features a striking curved exterior with stylized columns, a swooping flat roof, and a glass facade. Originally home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Academy Awards ceremonies from 1969 to 1999. Currently the resident home for the Los Angeles Opera and the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center dance series. |
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| (1967)* – Closer look at the parking lot across from the DWP building and Music Center, now the location of the Disney Concert Hall. |
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Cinnabar and 2nd Streets
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| (1964)* – View looking SW on Cinnabar Street from near 2nd Street to 3rd Street. The western portal of the 3rd Street Tunnel can be seen on the left. Hope Street and the top of the Edison Building can be seen at upper-left. At center-right stands the Richfield Oil Company building on Flower Street. Photo by William Reagh |
Historical Notes Click HERE to see more early views of the western portal of the 3rd Street Tunnel. |
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| (1988)* - View looking SW on a private road between 1st and 2nd street in line with where Cinnabar Street once existed. Cinnabar Street was located between 2nd and 3rd streets on the other end this private road. This is between the Promenade Plaza (left) and the Bunker Hill Tower (right). |
Before and After
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| (1964 vs 1980)* – Looking SW on Cinnabar Street, which would have been located in line with the other side of the private road seen in the 1980 photo. |
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| (1967)^ - Composite panoramic photo taken from the 5th floor of the DWP Building. The view is looking south at Bunker Hill. Hope Street is at left with Flower Street at center. Note the parking lots in left foreground. This is where Bunker Towers and Disney Hall stand today. |
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| (1967)* – Clearing Bunker Hill. The view looks south over a dirt pit with trucks lined up, waiting for their payload. In the distance (upper left), the PacBell Tower (now the AT&T Tower) located at 433 S. Olive Street is visible. Also visible is the Art Deco-style Edison Building (now One Bunker Hill) on the northwest corner of Grand Ave and 5th Street. Photo by William Reagh |
Historical Notes The Community Redevelopment Agency of the city of Los Angeles undertook the Bunker Hill Redevelopment Project in 1955, a massive clearance project that leveled homes and cleared land for future commercial skyscraper development. This period saw the clearing and upzoning of the entire neighborhood. |
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| (ca. 1970)^ – View looking south down Flower Street as seen from the Bunker Hill Tower. At lower-right (NW corner of Flower and 3rd St) are the Bunker Hill Apartments. Also seen here is the Union Bank Building (upper-right), Citizens Citizens-Bank (upper-left) and the additional onramp construction at 4th Street. |
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| (1970)* - View from atop the Bank of California Building, looking north along Flower Street from 6th Street to the additional onramp construction at 4th Street. Prominent buildings in the background from left to right are the Bunker Hill Apartments and Tower, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the Music Center. |
Historical Notes Since the previous photos, the Bunker Towers have been constructed. Built in 1968, the 32-story Bunker Hill Tower was one of the original buildings in the extensive Bunker Hill Redevelopment Project. |
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| (1970)^ – View looking SW across Grand Avenue showing the ARCO Towers under construction with the Edison Building seen on the left and Union Bank Building on the right. Photo by Leo Zahn |
Historical Notes The ARCO Towers were built on the site of the Richfield Building (1928, demolished 1968), an Art Deco masterpiece. Upon completion in 1972, the ARCO Plaza towers were the tallest buildings in the city for one year before being overtaken by Aon Center, and were the tallest twin towers in the world until the completion of the World Trade Center in New York City. The towers are the tallest twin buildings in the United States outside of New York City, where the 55-floor Time Warner Center stands at 750 ft.* |
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| (1982)^ - View showing the four-lane Grand Avenue looking south. Several high-rise buildings can be seen throughout. On the right, a tall building under construction, and on the left, the PacBell Tower located at 420 S. Grand Avenue. Also seen are: the Edison Building, Los Angeles Central Library, Aon Center, ARCO Towers, Crocker-Citizens Bank Building, UBC (United California Bank) and Union Bank. |
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| (1969)* - View of the last remaining residences on Bunker Hill, "The Castle" and "The Saltbox". The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Stanley Mosk County Courthouse can seen behind them to the north. |
Historical Notes Both "The Castle" and "The Saltbox" were successfully relocated to Heritage Square in March 1969. Unfortunately, the area was not well protected, and both the Castle and the Salt Box were burned to the ground by vandals in October 1969. Click HERE to see more. |
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| (1971)* – View looking north over the Bunker Hill Redevelopment area on a stormy-looking day. From left to right can be seen Bunker Hills Towers, DWP Building, Music Center, LA County Courthouse, California State Building, Federal Building, City Hall, and in the lower-right foreground, the AT&T Madison Complex Tandem Office Building. Photo by Julius Shulman |
Historical Notes Atop the actual Bunker Hill (but generally thought of as lying within the Civic Center) are two of the first buildings to follow the neighborhood’s redevelopment, the beautiful John Ferraro Building (formerly known as the Department of Water and Power’s General Office Building), completed in 1964, and the Los Angeles Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (1964), Ahmanson Theater (1967), and Mark Taper Forum (1967). |
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