The History and Architecture of Downtown Los Angeles
Description
My name is Chris, and I'll be your guide to Downtown. I've led tours for KTLA, Spectrum News1, and NHK Japan. There's a chance you've come across my other 5 star experiences, like the Sunset Strip True Crime tour. When you book with me, you're guaranteed to get the tour creator as your guide - not a person reading from a script. This isn't your average walking tour. Over 3 hours, you will dive deep into the history, architecture, and landmarks of Downtown Los Angeles! Our tour starts with a ride on historic Angels Flight. Your ticket for this 1901 train from La La Land and Bosch is included as a part of the experience! You'll see famous LA buildings, like the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Bradbury Building, and City Hall. We will discuss their film history, architects, and styles. From Art Deco to postmodern, there's amazing variety along our walk. We will also visit Little Tokyo for sample from LA's oldest candy store and explore the history of this fascinating part of Los Angeles.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start the tour by learning about the shortest train ride in the world! We will discuss Angels Flight and its connection to the Victorian community of Bunker Hill. The tour will start with a ride on Angels Flight! (Cost of Angels Flight is included with the tour.)
Learn what happened to the Victorian homes of old Los Angeles and how the modern financial district was established. See famous LA skyscrapers from movies like Independence Day!
Bunker Hill is home to two amazing free art museums. The first of the museums we will see is the Museum of Contemporary Art. We will discuss the Pritzker prize winning architect behind this building and his early architectural struggles.
The second free museum is the Broad (take the tour to learn the correct pronunciation!) The stunning architecture of the museum is only surpassed by the quality of the Pop Art collection in the gallery. There are big plans for the Broad, you'll hear all about them and the ambitious additions.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall is an architectural wonder from a master starchitect at the top of his game. Frank Gehry has been called the "most important architect of our age" and buildings like the WDCH are proof of his abilities. The story behind the making of the Concert Hall is just as fascinating as the building itself!
More architecture and civic history! The tour is now getting into the political heart of LA. You'll walk right through Grand Park and discover how LA morphed from a town of just 44 into a city of millions.
The Japanese communities have shaped California in an incredible way, and LA is no exception. I will point out the legacy businesses, best restaurants, historic markers, and make sure that you leave Little Tokyo impressed by this vibrant section of downtown.
Running a small business can be hard. Running a small business through 2 world wars, the Great Depression, and 120+ years of life's ups and downs is nearly impossible. Yet, that is exactly what the Kito family in LA have been doing since opening their family business in 1903. Our tour will stop by this legendary establishment and sample their incredible mochi!
The oldest building along our tour route is St. Vibiana's Cathedral from 1876. This cathedral was built at a time when nearly 1/5th on LA's entire population could fit in the building!
Broadway in Downtown LA is home to the largest collection of historic "Movie Palaces" left in the United States. The grand theatres of Broadway hosted the premieres of Hollywood legends, like Charlie Chaplin. The Million Dollar Theatre is one of the most grandiose of the still standing theatres.
The Bradbury is one of the most magnificent buildings in the world. Discover the incredible story behind this 1893 masterpiece!
The architecture of LA's old bank district reflects the vast wealth and ambition of LA at the start of the 20th century. As we progress down Spring St., our buildings progress in styles and materials. Iron, steel, Beaux Arts to Art Deco, walking along Spring St. is an architectural timeline of what was once "The Wall Street of the West."
Go inside one of LA's coolest hangouts! The Last Bookstore is a readers paradise, but it is also full of great spots to take an amazing photo. You will learn about the original bank building and learn the secrets of the original vault.
This foodie destination is a treat for locals and visitors alike. This historic food hall has been operating for over 100 years now and shows no signs of slowing down!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(136)
This was one of the highlights of our trip to Los Angeles! Our guide was fantastic—extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about the city’s history and architecture. He made the tour both educational and fun from start to finish. We covered everything listed on the itinerary, including Angels Flight, Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, Little Tokyo, Bradbury Building, Grand Central Market, and many other historic landmarks throughout Downtown LA. Riding Angels Flight was a unique experience, and stopping in Little Tokyo for mochi was a fun bonus. I learned so much about the history, architecture, and development of Los Angeles that I never would have discovered on my own. The pace was perfect, and the guide kept everyone interested with fascinating stories and local insights. If you’re visiting Los Angeles and want to gain a deeper appreciation for the city, I highly recommend this tour. It was informative, enjoyable, and a great way to experience Downtown LA.
Chris was excellent! He was like an encyclopedia, his knowledge of the buildings & history of LA was impressive. He was personable & fun. We learned so much & thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Absolutely marvelous tour! My husband, college son, high school daughter, and I all enjoyed it immensely. Initially my kids were dubious, but Chris’s engaging stories and deep knowledge won everyone over. This was a fantastic beginning to our week in L.A.
Fantastic walking tour! Chris was fun, knowledgeable, and always made sure we were getting a good experience.
The guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Los Angeles and architecture. He was able to answer all my questions and was entertaining to listen to.
Chris is very knowledgeable and has much enthusiasm for Downtown Los Angeles and the history of Southern California in general. I learned so much. I would definitely go on another tour with him when visiting LA again.
Really worthwhile tour to take. Interesting walk around lots of the downtown area, informative with lots of cool facts and history. Would highly recommend
Great guide, very insightful thread and clear voice. Stopped for restrooms and for drinks. Saw things that we could not discover alone.
The guide was extremely knowledgeable, entertaining, and considerate. Highly recommended tour of downtown LA
Tour was awesome, my guide Chris was very knowledgeable and fun to be around. Would like to point out that there is a 2 person minimum for the tour so if you are the only one who has booked it you will need to buy a second ticket to keep the tour or hope that someone else books the tour as well running the risk of cancelation.
