The white Hollywood sign has been perched on Mount Lee in the luxurious Hollywood Hills neighborhood since 1923, and it’s 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 sign.
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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, as it is fenced off, connected to motion detectors, and under constant camera surveillance. Anyone entering the restricted area will be detained by the police.
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Best Places to Photograph the Hollywood Sign
1️⃣ Lake Hollywood Park
The advantage of Lake Hollywood Park is not only its great view but also the convenient car access. You can combine your stop here with a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood, located nearby. It’s also a good spot to visit on your way from Griffith Observatory, as the drive takes about 30 minutes.
The downside is the spot’s high popularity, meaning parking spaces are often full.
2️⃣ Canyon Lake Drive
A great spot for taking photos is along Canyon Lake Drive near the house numbered 3000. If you’re driving, I recommend parking near the dog training area. Be aware that parking is prohibited on smaller side streets, and the police frequently patrol this area, so avoid getting a fine.
For an even better view, walk up the hill along Mulholland Highway. On clear days (fog is common), you can see Los Angeles and the Hollywood Reservoir.
3️⃣ Griffith Observatory
The Griffith Observatory offers a long viewing platform on its western side, providing a decent view of the Hollywood sign. You can also combine taking photos with a visit to the observatory itself, which has free admission. The downside is that the sign appears quite far from this spot.
4️⃣ Helicopter Tour Around the Hollywood Sign
For a completely different perspective, you can view the Hollywood sign from a helicopter, with the option to fly at sunset. During the 10-minute flight, you’ll also see Hollywood Hills, Griffith Park, Mulholland Drive, Beverly Hills, and Universal Studios.
Flights depart from Burbank Airport, and throughout the journey, you’ll receive commentary from the pilot, to whom you can ask questions.
5️⃣ Hollyridge Trail
The Hollyridge Trail leads you as close to the Hollywood sign as possible. However, note that you’ll be viewing the sign from behind.
The trail itself is physically demanding, covering 5.1 mi with an elevation gain of 850 ft.
6️⃣ Barnsdall Art Park
The view from Barnsdall Art Park offers something a bit different. The park is located near the Vermont/Sunset Metro station, meaning the sign is quite far away. This distance, however, allows you to capture the entire 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 also the original form of the sign. It was illuminated, with different parts lighting up in sequence: first HOLLY, then WOOD, and finally LAND. The entire sign, standing 30 ft tall, was lit up by 4,000 light bulbs. The plan was for the sign to be removed 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 more than 100-year history, the sign has been damaged multiple times. In the 1940s, its caretaker Albert Kothe had a car accident. While he wasn’t 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 reconstruction in 1949, following an agreement between the local chamber of commerce and the Los Angeles Parks Department. According to the agreement, the chamber of commerce would cover the costs of the new lighting, but to save money, the repaired sign was left without lightbulbs. The sign was also shortened to HOLLYWOOD.
In 1978, the 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 $27,777, making up a total of $250,000 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 46 ft tall, was unveiled during a live broadcast on November 14, 1978, with approximately 60 million viewers tuning in. The most recent renovation occurred in November 2005, when the letters were given a fresh coat of white paint.
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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
Several times, the Hollywood sign’s text has been altered. For example, in September 1987, it was changed to “HOLYWOOD” to celebrate the Pope’s visit to Los Angeles, and in April of the same year, it displayed “FOX” to promote the national TV network. In 1990, the sign was altered to say “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 signs 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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