100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
The white Hollywood sign has been perched on Mount Lee in the luxurious Hollywood Hills since 1923, and it is now one of the most recognizable symbols of the USA. Why is it there, and what did the original Hollywood sign look like? In this article, I’ll show you the best spots to take photos with the iconic landmark.
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Table of Contents
Where the Hollywood Sign Is Located
The Hollywood sign is situated in Los Angeles on the southern side of Mount Lee in Griffith Park. Direct access to the sign is not possible; it is fenced off, connected to motion detectors, and under constant camera surveillance. Anyone attempting to enter the restricted area will be detained by the police.
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Best Places to Photograph the Hollywood Sign
1️⃣ Lake Hollywood Park
Lake Hollywood Park offers not only a great view but also convenient car access. You can easily combine a stop here with a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood, which is located nearby. It is also a convenient stop on your way from Griffith Observatory, as the drive takes only about 30 minutes.
However, due to the spot’s popularity, parking spaces fill up quickly.
2️⃣ Canyon Lake Drive
A fantastic spot for photos is along Canyon Lake Drive near the house numbered 3000. If you are driving, I recommend parking near the dog training area. Be aware that parking is prohibited on the smaller side streets, and police frequently patrol the area, so park legally to avoid a fine.
For an even better view, walk up the hill along Mulholland Highway. On clear days (though fog is common), you can see across Los Angeles and the Hollywood Reservoir.
3️⃣ Griffith Observatory
The Griffith Observatory features a long viewing platform on its western side, providing a decent view of the Hollywood sign. You can combine your photo session with a visit to the observatory itself, which offers free admission to the building. The only downside is that the sign appears quite small from this distance.
4️⃣ Helicopter Tour Around the Hollywood Sign
For a completely different perspective, you can view the Hollywood sign from a helicopter, with options to fly at sunset. During the 10-minute flight, you will see the Hollywood Hills, Griffith Park, Mulholland Drive, Beverly Hills, and Universal Studios.
Flights typically depart from Burbank Airport. Throughout the journey, the pilot provides commentary and can answer any questions you might have.
5️⃣ Brush Canyon Trail (Mount Lee Summit)
The Brush Canyon Trail is the primary hiking route that leads you as close to the Hollywood sign as legally possible. It takes you to the summit of Mount Lee, where you will view the sign from behind.
The hike is physically demanding, covering with an elevation gain of . This route avoids the restricted gates found in other residential neighborhoods.
6️⃣ Barnsdall Art Park
The view from Barnsdall Art Park offers a unique alternative. The park is located near the Vermont/Sunset Metro station, which means the sign is quite far away. However, this distance allows you to capture the entire city panorama in your photos.
Barnsdall Art Park sits on land gifted to the city in 1927 and has since been transformed into a cultural center with art galleries you can visit.
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The History of the Hollywood Sign – Who Built It and Why
The Hollywood sign was originally built in 1923 by the local development firm Woodruff and Shoults Realty as an advertisement for a new housing development.
The project was called HOLLYWOODLAND, which was the sign’s original text. It was illuminated, with different segments lighting up in sequence: first HOLLY, then WOOD, and finally LAND. The entire sign, standing tall, was lit by 4,000 light bulbs. The plan was to remove the sign after a year and a half, but the booming film industry turned it into a symbol of Los Angeles, so it remained.
Over the course of its history, which now spans more than a century, the sign has been damaged multiple times. In the 1940s, its caretaker Albert Kothe was involved in a car accident at the site. While he was not seriously injured, the letter “H” was destroyed.
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The Sign Was Saved by a Fundraiser Organized by the Founder of Playboy
The Hollywood sign underwent its first major reconstruction in 1949, following an agreement between the local Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Parks Department. Under the agreement, the Chamber of Commerce covered the cost of new lighting, but to save money, the repaired sign was left without lightbulbs. The text was also shortened to read simply HOLLYWOOD.
In 1978, the deteriorating wooden letters were replaced with steel ones, thanks to a campaign initiated by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. Hefner, along with eight other donors, each contributed , raising a total of to fund the project. Each donor sponsored one letter:
- H – Terrence Donnelly, publisher of the Hollywood Independent Newspaper
- O – Singer Alice Cooper, in honor of comedian Groucho Marx
- L – Les Kelley, founder of Kelley Blue Book
- L – Singer Gene Autry
- Y – Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy magazine
- W – Singer Andy Williams
- O – Italian film producer Giovanni Mazza
- O – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
- D – Businessman Dennis Lidtke, in honor of Matthew Williams
The new sign, standing tall, was unveiled during a live broadcast on November 14, 1978, with approximately 60 million viewers tuning in. The most recent major renovation occurred in 2022, when the letters were given a fresh coat of white paint in preparation for the sign’s 100th anniversary.
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Fun Facts About the Hollywood Sign
⭕ Hollywood Sign Replicas Around the World
The sign is famous worldwide, and several replicas exist. One such replica, displaying the text “VALMEZ,” was once located on Helštýn Hill near the Czech town of Valašské Meziříčí. Other replicas can be found near Keelung Harbor in Taiwan, on Mount Tâmpa in Brașov, Romania, and near the Polish town of Szastarka.
⭕ Temporary Changes to the Hollywood Sign
The text of the Hollywood sign has been altered several times. For example, in September 1987, it was changed to “HOLYWOOD” to celebrate the Pope’s visit to Los Angeles, and in April of that same year, it displayed “FOX” to promote the TV network. In 1990, the sign was altered to read “OIL WAR” as a protest against the Desert Shield military operation in the Persian Gulf.
⭕ The Sign Has Been a Protected Landmark Since 1973
As one of the most photographed structures in the world, the Hollywood sign was officially declared a protected landmark by the City of Los Angeles in 1973.
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Photos of the Hollywood Sign
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