Archie was a great guide, very knowledgeable. I lived the old photographs he brought. Sad to think if the many beautiful buildings that were list, but still many gems to revisit and riscover. It's great to discover your own city. I thought the KA read more

Los Angeles Conservancy is a nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve the historic places in Los Angeles. They offer weekly and monthly architecture / history walking tours in Downtown LA with few seasonal tours. [Weekly Saturday tours]: Historic Downtown, Broadway Historic Theatre and Commercial District, Art Deco, and Union Station. [Monthly Saturday tours]: Angelino Heights, Modern Skyline, and The Biltmore Hotel lobby. *** Historic Downtown Walking Tour - each Saturday at 9:45 AM *** [Parking]: Option #1 (shorter walk) is the Pershing Square underground garage (532 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles, 90013) - $9 all day on weekends. 2nd option (longer walk) is the Westlawn Garage at Central Library (524 S. Flower Street) - discount is offered to Los Angeles Public Library card holders (parking validation is available at the library's Information Desk on the first floor). I only paid $1 at the Westlawn Garage with parking validation ($1.00 flat rate - validation still apply even if visitors come before 9:30 AM). [Special notes]: Arrive at least ten minutes early to check in. Tour meets at the center of Pershing Square near the mini-groves of Orange trees. The tour was supposed to start at 9:45 AM, but everyone arrived at 9:30 AM so our tour had an early start. [Price]: $25 per adult. $18 per youth (17 years and under). [Duration]: Our tour started at 9:30 AM and ended at 12 PM. The starting point was Pershing Square and the ending point was behind The Bradbury Building. All tours are led by volunteers. [Experience]: The tour mainly focuses on discussing beaux-arts vs art deco buildings. Our group walked into 5 different buildings including PacMutual Building, Los Angeles Public Library, The CalEdison, Grand Central Market, and The Bradbury Building (aka known from the 1982 movie Blade Runner). There was a short restroom break at Los Angeles Public Library at 10:30 AM. Our group also rode Angels Flight Railway and fare was covered as a part of the tour. [Conclusion]: A solid tour and it was a great experience to learn some basic history of buildings in Downtown LA. I would definitely consider doing some of their other tours to learn more about LA. read more

See all

Another season of the Los Angeles Conservancy's, 'Last Remaining Seats' series. Started in 1987 to draw attention to the amazing historic theaters of Los Angeles, the film series has since become an L.A. can't-miss beloved summer tradition. On this particular visit, we saw "High Noon" at The Million Dollar Theatre. The movie was supposed to start at 2pm. While the program started at 2pm, the movie didn't start until 2:36pm. Instead, of starting the movie on time, they held a lecture on the politics of the film, and info about the director and actors. I wish they would do this AFTER the film, or at least, announce that a lector will precede the film. About 30 minutes after the film finally started, the stage lights came on the screen and changed color about every 15 seconds (see pics). It was so ridiculous, that the audience started laughing and yelling at the house to do something about it. When the lights finally turned off, the audience cheered. Also, the sound of the film was much too loud, and at times, it was painful. Everyone around us (including us) had to cover our ears throughout the screening. When the film was over and we exited, there were two AV guys sitting at the soundboard in the back of the theater. I guess, they did not have the skills to adjust the volume of the film, or the lighting of the screen. Now I know that LA Conservancy is largely operated by volunteers, but one would think that after 38 years of playing films in classic movie theaters, they would get it right by now. These events are not free, so maybe next time they can pay a professional to play these films???? I am still a fan of what the Conservancy does (5 stars), but I may think twice about going to see a movie next year, if they can't get it together (one star). read more

See all

I expected much better from this organization. Tour guide was sweet but terrible at tours. She made us stand in the sun for a very slow background story, was too soft spoken to be heard...especially when she was facing and pointing to what she was describing instead of facing and speaking to the group. That should be the first lesson for a tour guide. read more

I went on the Historic Downtown tour and enjoyed it! Lisa was our docent and she was extremely knowledgeable about the history and architecture of the buildings we toured. Because of her I got my library card & will be touring the Central Library in a few weeks. I finally got to ride on the Angels Flight funicular! Usually it's closed. It's a 2 minute train that takes you from the top of Bunker Hill & lets you off in front of the 7th Street Market place. Other buildings we saw were the Central Library, PAC Mutual, Biltmore and the Bradbury. The cost of the tour was worth it. I couldn't have gotten a behind the scenes insight of these historic buildings on my own like Lisa shared with us. Thanks so much Lisa! read more

See all

I LOVE walking tours. This is my second tour with L.A. Conservancy. The docent has knowledgeable information that you would have NEVER known about unless you read up about it or even better, took their walking tour! I'm not a member, but the cost of a tour is inexpensive in my humble opinion. You get to see interesting things, hear interesting stories, and get your steps in as well!! I can't wait to schedule another walking tour with L.A. Conservancy. Great way to spend some time on the weekend. read more

Los Angeles Conservancy - Biltmore Hotel - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

I did the Art Deco tour with Paul P. as our guide and we had a fantastic time. The tour meets in the garden of the Central Library (which has parking for only $1 on weekends if you have LAPL membership). Check in was very efficient with a point person directing everybody to their specific tour group. Our tour ran for 2.5 hrs, and it taught us to look...up! We've walked around all of these areas before for years, and never knew the history or been inside some of these locations, so it was nice to finally appreciate and learn the history. The tour was very informative, and you get in a nice walk. I did wish we got to go inside more buildings, but guess that's off the table now that more are getting converted to apartments or closed. At one point, Paul pointed out a very stylistic door, and the entire group OOOOH'd collectively, causing the elevator repair crew to peep out and look at what we were admiring - they'd worked in that building for years and never knew any of this history! Very much enjoyed our tour with the Conservancy, and will be back for more tours. read more

I have taken both the Biltmore and Los Angeles Public Library walking tours through the LA Conservancy. Both were very well priced at less than $20 per person. The tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable and are able to answer all of your questions. I highly recommend their tours to anyone who is interested in learning more about LA's history and architecture. I'll definitely be checking out more of their tours in the future! read more

See all

The Broadway Theatre Tour today was breathtaking. Christina was very knowledgable and a pleasure to talk with. She really knew her stuff. If you want to experience LA's jewels, this tour is for you. read more

My partner and I went on the Broadway tour and had an amazing time! Our tour guide was Tom and he was so knowledgeable and kind with the group. We learned alot and had a great time all because of Tom. I cannot recommend this enough. Parking was easy according to the confirmation email. Walking around was easy and felt safe. Please note that going into the theaters will require going up and down several flights of stairs. We will be returning to go on another LA Conservancy tour! read more

Los Angeles Conservancy - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

I took the Millenium Biltmore Hotel Walking Tour this past weekend. I loved exploring the halls and rooms of the hotel. I enjoyed learning about the construction and function of buildings around DTLA, including the Biltmore. I also enjoyed viewing all the art in the Biltmore and learning of all the symbolism in it. All said, there were a couple of things that were problematic with my tour guide. My tour guide read of her cue cards a lot and did not project her voice very high during the tour. It was hard to hear her outdoors due to traffic and the function going on at Pershing Square. Also it was hard to hear her talk when visiting a specific room (I believe it was the ballroom) in the hotel because a film crew was setting up and started drilling. I would still go on another LA Conservancy tour otherwise. read more

See all

I've been to DTLA many times in the past and it's always interesting to witness the changes happening in Los Angeles. There seems to be new buildings, hotels, restaurants or bars popping up everywhere. I kind of miss walking through Grand Central Market when there were less people visiting it back in the day. I even remember the days when DTLA was a ghost town during the weekend. Now it's buzzing with people and activity. I took the Historic Downtown tour with LA Conservancy and it was interesting to see our historic buildings with some commentary and history with our tour guide. I've taken self-guided tours and it's not the same. The tour is definitely educational and it can be a good workout walking around and climbing up steps or hills for a couple hours. You also might get to meet people from around the world. I was the only local in my group walking tour. There was some inaccuracies in what my guide was saying to our tour group which I was able to catch as a local, but I'm sure the tourists didn't even notice. Our guide kept calling a building the US Bank building when I definitely knew it wasn't. I highly recommend taking a tour with the LA Conservancy. It's only $10 or you can go for free with your Los Angeles Public Library card. It was great to find out about about the LAPL program which allows you to explore LA offering free admission to numerous museums in Los Angeles. I'll definitely visit the LA Conservancy and take more tours to support this organization. Download the ParkWhiz and pre-pay parking for $6 across the street or take the Metro. https://www.lapl.org/explorela https://www.parkwhiz.com/parking-app/ Visit https://www.laconservancy.org/tours for details. read more

Los Angeles Conservancy - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

What a fascinating and educational architectural tour! Rich was a great tour guide, so well informed and interesting!

We love the Los Angeles Conservancy's walking tours -- especially their historic theatre district tour. In fact, it was our top recommended activity for all our out-of-town visitors for our recent wedding downtown. Once the entertainment epicenter of Los Angeles, Broadway in LA was home to dozens of major retail and clothing stores, as well as twelve movie palaces built between 1910 and 1931. Some have stayed - such as the Rialto Theatre (now converted into an outpost of the clothing store Urban Outfitters) or The Theatre at the Ace Hotel (which hosts screenings, concerts). However, some theaters just couldn't make it after World War II. Driven by the great urban sprawl and our love for cars, families moved into the suburbs of Los Angeles (giving way to the birth of the Valley girls! Ah, thanks for that...). One of the coolest things we discovered is that the outward appearance can be deceiving with these theaters. Many of these theaters looks VERY tiny from the street, but have thousands of seats. The tour, which costs just $15 per person, is one of the best bargains around. Held every Saturday at 10 AM (rain or shine), tours meet in the middle of Pershing Square Park and run about 3 hours. The Los Angeles Conservatory has a variety of tours, including the historic Biltmore Hotel (which I did with my mom on a previous visit) and the Last Seats Remaining program, where classic movies are screened in the historic theaters. Our family members loved it and many thought it was the best part of their trip (well, of course, outside our wedding!). You'll get to go inside 2-3 of the theaters (depending on what's available). What's even better is that you can sit along the way, which was great for our older family members who needed a rest every so often along the tour route. But the best part I think is that you're giving back to help preserve these incredible, historic theaters. read more

See all

The LA Conservancy Historic DTLA walking tour is excellent! Steven McC our docent was knowledgable & filled with interesting tidbits about the buildings we visited. He even carried a large binder of photos where we could compare the building as they are now vs in the past. The walk was a nice mix of history & well-timed stops. Great end to the tour with Angels Flight ride & Bradbury Building. Dont miss it! Highly recommend for a nice way to spend a morning in LA! read more

See all

Our downtown LA historic walking tour on Sept 7 was a fantastic experience. I really appreciated the knowledge and sensitivity of our guide, who also made sure we were kept out of the blazing LA sun as much as possible that morning! A great experience all around. read more

This is our 6th or so L.A. Conservancy Tour, and this is one of our favorites! Got to learn more about the history of Los Angeles, and walked away appreciating the beauty of Downtown L.A. The 2 1/2 hour walking tour started in Pershing Square. During the tour, we went inside and checked out the beautiful interiors of the L.A. Library, One Bunker Hill, Bradbury Building, and Metro 417. We also got the chance to see the amazing exterior features of the Millenium Biltmore Hotel, Title Guarantee and Trust Building, US Bank Tower and Million Dollar Theater. The tour ended at Grand Central Market and Angel's Flight Railway. Join the L.A. Conservancy and tours are only $5, instead of $10. The L.A. Conservancy has some of the most knowledgeable tour guides who just love what they do. read more

See all

I am a huge fan! Last June we were finally able to get the tickets (they sell out fast!) to see "Kiss of the spider woman" at the Million Dollar Theatre and loved the whole experience as it is a unique opportunity to see the old, historic theaters of Los Angeles, all perfectly preserved. Some reviewers have complained about the steep price- in my opinion it is a a reasonable price to pay to live first-hand a part of Los Angeles history that has been preserved from becoming a skyscraper or an apartment building. LA Conservancy does a great job and I can't wait to see what hey have in store for 2019! read more

See all

I went on a fascinating tour of downtown LA theaters that was led by an excellent guide (Kathy). We saw a dozen theaters and got inside four of them. The guide also covered a lot of other buildings en route. As a preservation professional, I've been on a lot of tours in my life--and this one was easily in the Top Ten. Excellent tour (and guide). read more

Over the past few years, I've attended about 5 of the LA Conservancy's walking tours, including the Modern Skyline tour, the Historic Downtown tour, the Union Station tour, and a special underground Downtown tour which my friend got me into through her Conservancy membership. The tours are affordable, convenient, and exactly what you hope they will be, and the tour guides are all terrific. The tours all live up to their billings. Plus, you get your steps in while walking through Downtown LA. Additionally, the LA Conservancy performs important historical preservation work, and your support helps them continue their work. The tours guides all seem very personally invested in the Conservancy's mission, which makes them passionate, well-informed presenters. LA Conservancy tours are great for both LA locals and tourists. Don't miss out!! read more

I have attended for many years. The chief challenge is by now most creative folk from the golden age of cinema are deceased so offspring, critics and historians constitute the guests for the classic films. They currently offer a mix including classics and more contemporary movies. Some time is allowed to explore the incredible film palaces before the program begins. After screenings they have a Q&A about the theaters. Often they have entertainment, like live music or a fashion show of movie costumes. Also a short subject. And silents are shown at the Orpheum which still has a Wurlitzer theater pipe organ to accompany them. Sometimes for classics folks show up dressed in period clothes which just enhances the fun of the screenings. The ticket price reflects this is a fundraiser to aid restoring these glorious architectural wonders to their original glory. Over the years I have witnessed firsthand the fruits of the Conservancy's efforts as theaters that once had decayed from neglect shone again. A fun event with a laudable purpose. Talk about a win - win! When I started attending in the 90s maybe the first night sold out but otherwise tickets were for sale at the event. Then the hipsters discovered it and now often several or all sell out. Best to buy as soon as they go on sale to avoid disappointment. You can be added to an e-mail list for alerts about the series including what the lineup will be in advance of tickets being put on sale: https://www.laconservancy.org/subscribe?utm_term=E-Mail read more

See all

What an excellent way to spend a few hours in LA. Archy, our tour guide, was super personable, knowledgeable and funny. So many incredibly beautiful buildings in downtown LA - a time capsule of fine craftsmanship and true skill. Sad to see so many amazing buildings go. Very happy LA Conservancy is there to help preserve and to help people realize what we've lost and are in danger of losing. Maybe we can keep the remaining ones around a bit longer! read more

Cannot say enough about the conservancy walks and the volunteer docents who lead them. There is a 'hidden', as well as a 'hidden in plain sight' LA you owe it to yourself to discover. We have done 6 tours with them now (over a couple of years), and they have all been outstanding. The volunteer guides all offer a different perspective, have all been knowledgeable and work really hard to provide a good experience. The theater district tour takes you into classic, ornate theaters that have largely been restored to their former glory, with the guides providing historical background and nuances. The Art Deco and Angelino Heights (Victorian Homes) tours are more focused on architecture, bringing you inside several, observing many more from the outside. The guides provide an introduction to characteristics of the architectural styles as well as an interesting historical narrative. Historic downtown is more of an overview tour, very worthwhile attending, but I enjoyed the above three tours more, probably due to their narrower focus and total surprise at seeing the rich architectural heritage in Downtown Los Angeles. We have also done the Modern Skyline and Millennium Biltmore tours. As an added bonus, by taking the tours (did I mention they are led by volunteers?) you are supporting an organization that is dedicated to preserving the rich architectural history that exists in Los Angeles. read more

The folks at the LA Conservancy are devoted to preserving our city's history and helping to guide our future, and no one is better suited to leading a tour of historic downtown. I've lived here all my life and know a fair bit about Los Angeles, but learned so very much about the beautiful downtown buildings I've taken for granted all these years. Kudos to our tour guide, Bruce, who was fantastic. read more

STROLLIN' DOWN BROADWAY! Do you ever dream about being in a different time? I certainly do, but of no particular period of time. Maybe that's why relics and historical architecture make me get all googly eyed. There's just something about walking into a structure that has been abandoned for decades, or historical buildings where the decor is mostly untouched, makes my mind go wild. Imagining how people lived by decorating a room in my head with furniture and fixtures, picturing family time, what they did as a family, etc... SHIVER!! Love it! Anywhoo! Thanks to the annual Night on Broadway event held in downtown LA, my head was overwhelmed with the interior of the historical theaters we were able to enter and see some form of performance. I needed more. So, I checked out the LA Conservancy website and wouldn't ya know it, they offer tours. Whoo Hoo!!! Registering for a few Crew members and I was easy peasy. The Conservancy offers several different tours; however, my interest this time around was in the Broadway Historic Theatre and Commercial District Walking Tour. Confirmation of the reservation was emailed to me, which included their strict start time policy, meeting point, and other vital information regarding the tour. We knew that not all of the theaters would be accessible, and we were ok with that. We all gathered at the meeting spot, and were presented to the bestestestest guide ever!!! Andrew!! If you can, I'd advise attempting to reserve him. He was so knowledgeable, upbeat, friendly, and kept us entertained while walking the street of Broadway, and he kept a good walking pace. You know, a hikers "mosey" is equivalent of a speed walker. At the end of the day, our minds were nourished with knowledge of the old, leg muscles were fulfilled with the good pace and distance, but our tummy's were rumblin' and grumblin'. We were in need of some nourishment. We expressed our gratitude to our awesome guide, Andrew, tried to give him a tip, but he wouldn't accept. He suggested we donate it to the Conservancy, or better, purchase a membership. There are benefits to becoming a member, at least in my opinion. One that I'm most interested in is "Last Remaining Seats." I'll get into all the theaters one way or another. Tee hee hee!!! CLOSING CREDITS: If this review peaks your interest, check out the LA Conservancy (LAC) website, you may find a tour that overwhelms nourishes your brain. I truly have to commend the LAC, their website and follow up emails are very well composed, they are filled with a freakton of information, yet presented in a way that isn't overwhelming. Kudos!!! Having said that, there really isn't much else I can say to sum up this review. read more

See all

I'm willing to bet that most Angelenos (native and non-native) have never visited Pershing Square. And that's a damn shame because they are missing out on one of LA's best kept secrets: The LA Conservancy tours. I've been wanting to take the Historic Core tour for over a year now. Abby and a couple of other friends highly recommended it to me. I used to work in my family's restaurant that was right near Pershing Square back in the 80's. Back then, Pershing Square was concrete wasteland that homeless vagrants and pigeons liked to congregate in. The place smelled like a public latrine. The surrounding area wasn't much better. It had a vibrant and thriving Latino shopping community, but it was also a ghetto. So flash forward to today. When my bf and I arrived around 9:15 AM (they want you to arrive by 9:45 AM for the tour), we walked out of the building that we parked with and I noticed a big difference form the last time I walked through Pershing Square - it was a lot cleaner and a lot less crowded from weekend shoppers. It felt more gentrified and the Famima! and hair salon that I spotted nearby were proof of that. That same gentrification has also driven away a significant portion of the Latino shoppers that used to frequent the place on weekends. We didn't do advance reservations and despite the cloudy and cold climate (scattered showers was in the forecast), there was a decent sized crowd waiting for the tour to start. There crowd was divided into specific groups for each of the tours that the LA Conservancy offers each Saturday. My bf and I were walk-ins, but you can make reservations online in advance. The organizers tried to encourage us to sign up for the Art Deco tour which had fewer attendees. But I had my mind set on the Historic Core tour. We were allowed to join in, but there were about 30 of us total. The docent said that was the largest group he has ever handled - the normal size for a docent led tour is about 15 or so. The large group didn't diminish my enjoyment of the tour. Like Abby did a year earlier, I learned facts about Pershing Square along with the surrounding buildings. There are a total 14 Points of Interest that the tour will take you through. Most of the buildings we were able to enter, but some buildings prevented us from entering for a variety of reason like security issues, or they were undergoing conversions into condos and apartments, or specific buildings were meant for another one of the tours the LA Conservancy offers. I was a little disappointed that we did not enter the Biltmore Hotel (that's a weekday tour) and the Million Dollar Theater (that's for the Broadway Theater District tour). However, we visited or got a glimpse of enough building interiors to satisfy my architectural cravings. The tour ends at the building that the movie Blade Runner made famous: The Bradbury Building. That alone made the tour so worth it, and it was the primary reason why I wanted to take the historic tour. I did pizza deliveries in the area over 20 years ago, but never was lucky enough to do a delivery into this building or accidentally step into its lobby. I never realized what I was missing, but I probably would not have appreciated its beauty back then the way I do now, since I was only a young teenager during that time. I'm sure that each tour will be a little different because of building access restrictions during the time that you visit. The personality and behavior of your docent will also vary. I'm bad at recalling names, but my docent that day did a capable job of guiding my large tour group. My bf and I enjoyed the tour so much that we are planning to go back for the other tours offered like the Downtown's Evolving Skyline tour and the Broadway Historic Theater District tour. I love LA and its nice knowing that the LA Conservancy does too. Parking is easy. You can park underneath Pershing Square and have your ticket validated by the organizers at the start of your tour. Or you can park at one of the many building garages or open air parking lots. Prices range from $5 to $6 per car. The tour itself only costs $10 per person. Its a great deal, and practically a steal. read more

See all

Whenever I visit Little Tokyo, it's for one of two reasons, either to bring out of town guests for sight-seeing or to have a meal. I never really thought that much of the history or even noticed a lot of the public art that is on display; however, a morning taking the LA Conservancy Little Tokyo Tour really opened my eyes. Before I tell you about the actual tour, here's a little bit of history. Little Tokyo has been the center of Los Angeles Japanese American community for almost a century. Despite a lot of initial setbacks, this neighborhood really grew and thrived. Unfortunately, the attack of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese really gave this community a major setback with Japanese-Americans being forced to enter internment camps all over the Western US. Over 6,000 Little Tokyo residents were forced to leave their homes and businesses. When they left, African Americans, many of them wartime workers, moved into the vacated buildings and for a time, the neighborhood was known as "Bronzeville." After the war, Japanese Americans gradually returned to Little Tokyo, but due to enormous property losses, it took years for the neighborhood to come back to life. On the tour, we learned about the Little Tokyo National Historic Landmark District which consists of the north side of First Street between Central Avenue and San Pedro Street. This area is comprised of 13 brick buildings from the pre-World War II period that illustrates the economic, social and cultural history of the Japanese American community from 1905 to 1942. On this block alone, families used to live in the upper floors or the back of the buildings, while the ground floor served as the store front for their businesses. There were also two places of worship, a church and temple as well as restaurants and small hotels. Now you can see why these row of buildings have such significance to Japanese American History. Embedded in the sidewalk of Little Tokyo National Historic Landmark is a 1995 art project titled Ornoide no Shotokyo (Remember Little Tokyo) by artists Sheila Levrant de Bretteville and Sonya Ishi. This sidewalk includes a timeline of the history of Little Tokyo with each decade from the 1890s t the 1940s represented by a light colored band with brass inscriptions. A final band in dark charcoal-black cement recalls the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. It'a amazing how many times I've walked this sidewalk and never even noticed what was under my feet. Other points of interest are two beautiful gardens. One is the rooftop garden of the New Otani Hotel and the other is an 8,500 square foot garden called "Garden of Clear Stream" that is adjacent to the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. You'll also learn more about the many public art scattered throughout Little Tokyo, from the "To the Issei" stone sculpture to the "Friendship Knot" to the mural entitled "Senzo" that depicts eight historic photographic images that were transferred to ceramic tile via a special silk-screening process. Believe me, there's a lot more that I learned and if you'd like to find out more about Little Tokyo, I suggest you take the tour yourself. To see pics, go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/la_addict/sets/72157601231444247/ read more

See all

Today I took the Los Angeles Conservancy's Historic Downtown Tour with a fellow history lover. We both thoroughly enjoyed it. Our tour guide, Barbara, was wonderful, knowledgeable, and personable. The tour was about two and a half hours long and interesting throughout. We learned about Pershing Square, the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, the PacMutual building, the Los Angeles Central Library, Angels Flight Railway, the Million Dollar Theatre, the Bradbury Building, and more. It was fun to go inside some of these buildings. We also learned about the history of Los Angeles and Los Angeles building codes. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone seeking to see some beautiful sights and learn more about Los Angeles and its past. The LA Conservancy offers many different tours; I would love to take the Art Deco Tour next. (This review was written by Erik's wife.) read more

I love historic movie palaces and L.A. has more of them than any other city. A bunch of them are concentrated downtown and the theater walking tour was right up my alley. The tour shows you where all the downtown theaters are, whether they are open, closed, or have been repurposed. One theater is now a jewelry store and we were able to go inside and see that part of the theater is still visible inside. But the best part is being able to go inside of at least one theater on every tour. I got lucky in that I was able to go inside of the 2 theaters I most wanted to see, the Los Angeles theater and the Orpheum. The orpheum because I know it has been in so many movies & videos. The Los angeles because I heard it was the most beautiful. And it did not disappoint. Walking into the lobby of the Los Angeles in breathtaking. We were free to take as many pictures as we wanted inside the theaters. I'll probably take this tour again next time I'm in L.A. to see if I can go inside of a different theater. read more

Los Angeles Conservancy - Lobby of Los Angeles Theater - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

After learning about the history of buildings and streets in Paris, I realized I knew less about my own city: Los Angeles. So, upon returning home, I went on a tour of downtown LA with the Los Angeles Conservancy. What a fun and informative day! It's amazing to learn details about the buildings that surround us - who the architects and mural artists were; why the buildings were built; the story of Los Angeles and the people who helped create this city. On the tour, we were able to go into some of the buildings. Stunning, the details that went into every feature - from the murals, to the deco elevator doors and drinking fountains. I brought my camera and took lots of great shots. The Conservancy is a much needed advocate for our city's history. Too often buildings that give Los Angeles character are torn down - from Schwabb's Pharmacy to the Malibu Colony Diner and the Ambassador Hotel, and other great architecture - The Conservancy fights to keep these buildings, and LA's history intact. And that's why I became a member. I love The LA Conservancy! read more

Los Angeles Conservancy - Pacific Center, taken while on The LA Conservancy's Downtown Los Angeles history tour. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Even though I've been an Angelino for practically all of my adult life, I'm saddened to say that I knew next to nothing about DTLA, specifically some of the more historic buildings and sights thereof. The LA Conservancy nonprofit group does a terrific job of fostering initiatives of concerned citizens about historic preservation and deter senseless demolition. Through its tours, it educates us about some of the history of the architecture from Beaux-Art to Art Deco; the Historic Downtown Walking Tour is just one of them and after completing just this one I would be interested in taking some of the others... The tour begins at Pershing Square every Saturday morning at 1000am although they want you to show up by 945am. Although parking in and around the area is competitive, we found it particularly convenient to park underneath Pershing Square for $7. I only heard later from other reviewers that the organizers of the walk can validate the parking at the beginning of the tour for a slight discount. Some of the other tours require you to make reservations in advance but this tour accepts walk-ons which is nice -- $10 per person without having to give out any personal information is a bargain... The walking tour lasts about 2 and a half hours and covers about a mile or so give or take. It would be nice to take the tour when the weather isn't too hot like in the spring or the fall, but the docent in additional to adding their own personal style to the tour, was pretty good about walking and stopping in the shade. We even stopped midway while touring the Library for a pit stop so don't worry about bringing a bottle of water for the trip... In addition to the Biltmore Hotel, Angels Flight, and the downtown steps, a couple of other things to keep your eye out for on the tour: - Jeffrey Greene's trompe l'oeil mural on the top floors of the Subway Terminal Building of windows and painters... http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-conservancy-historic-downtown-tour-los-angeles?select=LeZCofsuejY8Bw7_iaKpvg#Iy315fyib6z1QW3XZA134A - The inside of the Bradbury Building which I particularly remember in the movie Blade Runner was closed on that weekend for filming but I will definitely go back to see on my own... =( http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-conservancy-historic-downtown-tour-los-angeles?select=LeZCofsuejY8Bw7_iaKpvg#LeZCofsuejY8Bw7_iaKpvg - The inside of One Bunker Hill looked pretty opulent... http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-conservancy-historic-downtown-tour-los-angeles?select=LeZCofsuejY8Bw7_iaKpvg#l6nNsjV3f37PRn4_SHQUFw - A deal involving air rights allowed the US Bank Tower http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-conservancy-historic-downtown-tour-los-angeles?select=LeZCofsuejY8Bw7_iaKpvg#x2OO0pwPAVjbxoXPiSCaIA to exceed its height limit and at the same time helped renovate the Central Library... We had an awesome time taking the tour and we concluded our LA tourist mini-staycation with lunch at the Grand Central Market http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-conservancy-historic-downtown-tour-los-angeles?select=LeZCofsuejY8Bw7_iaKpvg#UZJ0wNVawf2CzjcQGFvaiQ, not a bad way to spend half a Saturday... read more

See all

Get lost more often. I find the best things this way. It is how I found Angelino Heights, an amazing area, and if you have never been you should go. One thing that I adore about Los Angeles is that even though I was raised here I can still get lost in a neighborhood that I have never been before. Angelino Heights has the largest concentration of Victorian homes in Los Angeles. It is worth a tour. You could always get lost in the neighborhood on Carroll street if you are low on cash and want a little Angelino culture. Take the tour for some history, guidance and insight. read more

I love this organization. So will you if you have any interest in architecture or the history of Los Angeles. They have a variety of inexpensive walking tours that last a couple hours. One might focus on art deco in the downtown area and another might focus on the amazing historical movie theaters that align Broadway. There are many more and they are all fascinating. I promise you will learn things about L.A. and see architecture that you had no clue about. Interiors of buildings that few get to see. Go sign up for one of their walking tours! http://www.laconservancy.org/ read more

Boom! These tours are an absolute blast, and I am sooooo glad I discovered the LA Conservancy. I had always wanted to explore different parts of LA as there are some really amazing things to be seen yet they don't seem to be as lauded and featured the way things are in many other cities across the country and the world. Everybody just wants to go to the beach I guess :-) Well, these walking tours have given me fantastic opportunities to see incredible architecture that I could never hope to see on my own. Check out all the posted photos and you'll see so much stuff you never realized existed behind the sometimes battered facades and frankly, sometimes the beautiful facades we may never stop to look at in detail. Anyhow, I can't say enough about these walking tours, we've had fantastic, knowledgeable and fun tour guides every time and I can't wait to sign up for more. read more

See all

I used to think movies in cemeteries with crazy food trucks were the bomb, but these events are so fantastic, I became a member after the second I attended as guest of member (my boyfriend, #PamperedByPaul). He arranged for us to see both the Willy Wonka show at the Orpheum and the Raiders of The Lost Ark event at Ace Hotel (former United Artist). The point? Cool event with lively audience watching a loved movie and reacting with oohs, ahhs, laughs, awws, and claps and cheering as people's names and characters appeared on the big screen of amazing architecturally dreamy theaters that have been restored, saved, and preserved. Often they have special guests to speak before the film... film critics, writers, directors, etc. I feel fortunate to have attended two events and hope to attend as many as possible next season. Sign up with LA Conservancy for very affordable membership to stay in the loop (plus you will be supporting restoration and preservation of historical buildings and sites in and around LA). Enrique G and Euni e. are right on the mark with their 5 star evaluations. I completely agree! Elite elite elite experience well worth it! read more

See all

I became a staunch fan of the LA Conservancy after taking one of their walking tours through downtown LA earlier this year. This excellent tour enlightened me to their tireless commitment to conserving and protecting historical LA architecture. I didn't hesitate to become a member. One of the benefits of membership is getting first dibs on tickets in their Last Remaining Seats series. Held every summer, this event allows moviegoers the unique opportunity to watch a famous film inside one of the Broadway District's historical theaters. Many of the showings were on Wednesday evenings, and given I could only attend on a weekend, I chose to see "Easter Parade" on a Saturday evening at the Los Angeles Theater. I arrived at around 7:30 for an 8 pm show. After walking through the decadent lobby, I made my way up the stairs to find a seat in the balcony. Once seated, I saw that there was a barbershop quartet performing on the stage. I liked how there was live entertainment prior to the movie and how it matched the era the movie was made (1948). The singers were excellent, and they even did a mean rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" to end their performance. After that, there was a short break before the President of the Conservancy welcomed the audience and thanked all their sponsors. She then introduced a gentleman who is a collector of Hollywood movie costumes. He provided a short fashion show with models wearing costumes from his collection. I thought that part was very cool. Then, film critic Leonard Maltin was introduced and gave us an interesting intro to the movie, including anecdotes such as how Gene Kelly was originally cast in the movie, but he broke an ankle...so Fred Astaire came out of retirement to star in the film alongside Judy Garland. I'm not a huge fan of musicals, but it was neat seeing the movie. I liked how it offered a glimpse of a simpler time, although the depiction of Black and Asian domestic workers was a little cringeworthy. After the movie, there was a Q and A session about the history of the theater, as well as an invite to go to Clifton's across the street, where the Conservancy was hosting a special trivia night based on the movie. I didn't attend either, but loved how there were fun and interesting offerings after the show. I enjoyed the evening and would highly recommend it, but a few things to keep in mind: (1) the balcony on a June evening in the Los Angeles Theater is hot and stuffy! I had to fan myself with my program for the duration of the movie. I was quite uncomfortable and wished I had sat on the mezzanine level instead (not docking any stars, it's an old theater!) (2) the theater is located right in a not-so-great area of downtown LA. I didn't feel unsafe because there were a lot of people attending the show, but definitely be aware of your surroundings if you walk around. Snacks and drinks were sold in the lobby, and you could walk freely before and after the show to check out all the intricate details and rooms inside this gorgeous, awe-inspiring theater. read more

See all

Wow. This was my first LA Conservancy tour and I loved it. Here's what to expect if you go: (warning...I'm fairly passionate about this stuff, so this might be long and/or boring!) We started out in the lobby of the Million Dollar Theatre on a rainy November morning. You can tell right away that the lobby has been redone since the building's construction. Sure enough, we learned that the tacky, drop ceiling is covering the original murals which can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoI1Px6ysIY . Inside the auditorium itself, we got to sit in the seats and listen to a history of the decaying theatre before moving outside and looking at the outside of the amazing building. From what I understand, the Million Dollar has been somewhat rehabbed in the last few years, but it still has a very long way to go! Next, we went in the Bradbury building across the street. The outside of this building is deceptively simple compared to the ornate, light filled atrium filled with marble and wrought iron. This has to be the most beautiful building in LA! We were then taken down the street to the ruins of the Roxie, Cameo, and Arcade theatres. I knew when I saw the crumbling, rusted neon marquees on the outside of the buildings that this was not going to be good. We were taken into the Cameo theatre (the lobby of which is now a dusty electronics store. Walkman, anyone?), past a shabby curtain, and into what once had been the auditorium. it was the saddest place ever. The seats are long gone, but the sloped floor and the screen still remain in the rectangular space, crammed full of backstock for the electronics store. DON'T CRY!! DON'T CRY!! EEEEEE. It was hard to look at. Maybe I'm just a big weirdo. Back outside, we looked at the outside of the other two theatres flanking the Cameo. We found out that there's not much left of the Roxie inside and that the Arcade is still somewhat intact but rotting away and filled with rats. Next, we walked down the street and talked about the Palace and Los Angeles Theatres. Unfortunately, the tour can't take you inside either on but encourages you to come back for Last Remaining Seats: a yearly series of screenings of old films inside these amazing buildings. We then stepped inside Clifton's Cafeteria - a must see for anyone coming downtown. It looks like the new owner has already begun renovations here! Exciting!! Continuing down the street, we talked about the Tower (open for special events and filmings), the Globe (now a seedy looking nightclub), the United Artists (now a kooky church, but the building is currently up for sale! Does anyone have $12 million dollars?!) , and the Orpheum (In use!) theatres. I was a little sad when we didn't get to go into any of these, but I know that the conservancy has no control whatsoever over this. We came close to getting into the Orpheum, but had no luck. Oh well! Next up, we got to go inside the State Theatre, which is now a church. It's somewhat in a state of disrepair inside, and the church has made some wacky alterations (baptistmal where the concession stand would be, etc.), but the ceiling in particular was very beautiful here. The final stop on our tour took us up 7th Street to the beautiful old beaux-arts Pantages (Warner Bros.) Theatre. There's a big hole in the ground at the entrance that used to be an entrance to a Burger King. Nice. We entered on the side of the building, which is now a jewelry center, and suddenly found ourselves on the stage of the old theatre! I was amazed at how much of the ornamentation has survived on the walls, proscenium, etc. The space where the seats once stood is now filled with very gloomy jewelry booths, and the security guards were definitely staring us down the whole time we were there. Huh. This place made me want to cry again, so maybe it was good that the tour stopped here. Overall, I highly recommend this tour! It was an amazing, if gut wrenching, look at Old LA and the value of historical preservation. Hopefully with the Bringing Back Broadway movement, the LA Streetcar, and Clifton's renovation, this area's darkest days are behind it. read more

See all

Interested in art, architecture, or history? Love counting fit bit steps? Want to see Los Angeles in a different light? If you answered yes, then L.A. Conservancy walking tours are for you! We took the historic theatre district tour with our energetic and knowledgeable guide, Anne, today. All in, it was a 2.5 hour tour so bring comfortable shoes + maybe some water and a snack. We loved hearing about each theatre's history-- opening day, performers, construction, financing, repurposed mixed use in the modern day. We admired the Walter P. Story, United Artists Theater (ACE hotel), Eastern building, Roxie, Cameo, Palace, Rialto (now an Urban Outfitters) from the street. We ventured into the Los Angeles Theater and the Orpheum-- my were they grand and spectacular! You would never guess the opulence hidden behind the exterior walls of the Los Angeles Theater. There were so many unexpected nooks and crannies to explore at the Los Angeles. For instance, we popped into the ladies restroom and dressing room (a mirrored fantasy), and the kids' playroom (super creepy, circus themed with lots of clowns and empty scary closets-- start of a bad scary movie). We even ventured to the projection room for a special treat/tour of the mechanics. And the Orpheum? Even more beautiful and a more modern delight. The fabric wallpaper, the original curtains, the grand chandeliers-- need I go on? I left with a new sense of appreciation for my beautiful city, and look forward to more walking tours with the LA Conservancy. read more

See all

I LOVE THIS TOUR! I always looked to SF for trams and Victorian houses, but LA has them too!!! I never knew such a gem was in my backyard. Judith was such a great tour guide. The neighborhood is a great one. Where else can you find people who are willing to let others into their houses? The walking tour is a little draining toward the end. I will need to make more trips here to fully appreciate this jewel. read more

A friend suggested we take this on as a weekend activity and I was so glad we did! I love art deco architecture, so it was a nice opportunity to take a walk through downtown LA and hear about some of the history of the buildings. Quite often, I'm in a car or on transit downtown, so it's hard to have the time to stop and really appreciate the details that went into buildings (that they don't put in now). Our docent was new and didn't seem as knowledgeable as some of the others... it sometimes felt like we were a little rushed, when other groups were staying longer. We stopped at about 10 buildings along the way, and were able to go into the lobby of some, but not others. We couldn't photograph any in the jewelry district because the merchants worry about people scoping them out :( For as much as we took in, I wonder if the conservancy could do a second art deco tour... to cover off on some of the other buildings. There was plenty we didn't see (and you can't do it all and really learn about anything). At $10, a great value, and a nice way to spend a weekend morning! read more