Los Angeles City Hall Guide: History, Observation Deck, What to See & Where to Stay Nearby
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Los Angeles City Hall
“Look. Up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Superman!” Chances are you weren’t alive yet when the black and white television series, “Adventures of Superman” became a huge hit across the country in the late 1950s. The quote above was heard during the opening of each episode, with a crowd of people looking skyward followed by Superman, with his cape flowing, flying by a tall building in downtown Los Angeles. Then, and still today that building is Los Angeles City Hall.
Auteur: Nagel Photography
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 3: Ceiling in the rotunda of City Hall on Spring Street on August 3, 2016 in Los Angeles, California
The History of Los Angeles City Hall
Completed in 1928, L.A. City Hall opened during what architects considered the Modern American time period. However, the building was not designed to fit this or any other era. Instead, the designers of the building’s exterior combined classical design features including the grand columns and monumental steps which lead to the Spring Street entrance, with an Art Deco style tower that has a stepped pyramid that tops it off.
City Hall’s interior design by architect Austin Whittlesey projects Los Angeles as one of the great cities of the world along with Alexandria (Egypt), Florence, and Paris. At the same time there are clear acknowledgements of up and coming industries such as aviation, autos, and filmmaking.
When it comes to landmarks that exemplify the City of Los Angeles, there are few buildings that leap into the forefront. The city proper is better known for beaches, palm trees, movie stars, the iconic Hollywood sign, Beverly Hills, the Griffith Park Observatory, and of course, a mesmerizing array of freeways.
City Hall is 32 floors high, which was a magnificent skyscraper back in the 1920s, and an astounding 454 feet high. Nearly 100 years after it opened the building remains the governmental center of Los Angeles with the mayor’s office, as well as the meeting chambers of the Los Angeles City Council being on-site. The building’s location is considered the heart of the Civic Center district which corresponds to the central business district of Los Angeles in the 1880s and 1890s. All official L.A. City documents from licenses to letterhead and envelopes still feature the building prominently. A similar image has been depicted on the badges of Los Angeles police officers since 1940.
Los Angeles City Hall holds another interesting distinction as the tallest base-isolated structure in the world. What does this mean? From 1998 to 2001 the building was seismically retrofitted so that it will or at least should remain intact and functional should there be an earthquake up to a magnitude 8.2. Let’s hope that this work that is supposed to limit damage to the building’s structure never gets tested. During construction of the tower, sand from all 58 of California’s counties was mixed water from its 21 historical missions to create the concrete.
City Hall was designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1976.
Auteur: f11photo
Historic Los Angeles City Hall with blue sky in CA, USA
It May Not Be the Highest Observation Deck, but it’s FREE!
Many visitors just drive through downtown Los Angeles taking pictures of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dodger Stadium, and City Hall without stopping to check them out up close. If you want to see a rather cool view of the Civic Center/downtown area and points beyond, we suggest parking your car and heading over to the FREE Los Angeles City Hall observation deck.
Since City Hall is primarily an office building, it is only open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. The same is true of the observation deck, with its open hours being 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on workdays only, so bear this in mind not only during weekends but also holidays when City Hall is closed.
The building is located at 200 N. Spring St. but the security entrance for observation deck visitors is on Main St. on the other side of City Hall. Adults need to present photo ID at check-in where you will be provided with a visitors badge. Unfortunately, City Hall does not have its own parking garage, but there are several paid lots within a couple of blocks. This will be your only expense for visiting the viewpoint on the 27th floor.
As for the observation deck itself, the 360-degree view of the city is truly amazing even though you aren’t in one of downtown’s taller skyscrapers. There is no time limit for your stay so take selfies, photos in various directions, and just take it all in at a relaxed pace. Be sure to look up at the peak of City Hall’s pyramid where there is an aircraft beacon light named for Charles Lindbergh. You will also notice the many helicopter landing pads on top of downtown’s buildings that are unknown from street level.
Los Angeles City Hall in Movies and Television Shows
Recognizable around the world, the iconic building has been seen in many popular films and on television, including:
- “While the City Sleeps”, a Lon Chaney movie from 1928.
- “Adventures of Superman” TV show, where it was depicted as the Daily Planet newspaper building.
- “Dragnet” TV police show first aired in 1951.
- “Perry Mason” TV show with Raymond Burr where he can see City Hall from his law office window.
- “L.A. Confidential”, a 1997 film where the police operate from City Hall.
- “Adam-12”, a police TV series that ran for seven seasons.
- “The Bad News Bears” 1976 film with Walter Matthau had a scene that was shot in the L.A. City Council chamber.
- Prince’s 1991 music video for “Diamonds and Pearls” has City Hall as the central location.
- “The Amazing Race” during the season 25 finale had the competitors deliver a film permit to the building to complete a leg of the race.
Are There Other Interesting Stops Nearby?
Now that’s a great question! Since this is downtown Los Angeles, the second largest city in the U.S., the answer is unequivocally, yes. There’s a lot more to check out while you are in the Civic Center area.
- Our first recommendation is to spend some time at The Broad Museum, a FREE – there’s that word again – museum just 5 blocks/13 minutes on foot from City Hall. This contemporary art museum in the heart of downtown Los Angeles is home to more than 2,000 works on display in an amazing setting. The astonishing building’s design called “veil-and-vault” is just the beginning of an inspiring visit to the 120,000-square-foot facility. If possible, reserve your admission tickets online in advance as this popular museum often sells out. If early reservations aren’t possible an on-site stand-by line is available at the museum if you are willing to wait your turn to enter. On weekdays the average wait time for admittance is just 15-30 minutes. The Broad is closed on Mondays.
- Directly across the street is the world-famous Walt Disney Concert Hall. No doubt you have seen pictures of this architecturally stunning building. You can see it from your car if you’d like but checking it out up close along with the beautiful gardens is what we recommend. Self-guided audio tours of the concert hall are but check the days and times of tours prior to your visit to ensure availability.
- Other sites of interest in the Civic Center of Los Angeles include MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art); the fascinating Bradbury Building with its Victorian central courtyard with wrought iron railings; and The Last Bookstore (& Records) with a unique variety of books, records, and local art on several levels.
- By now you are probably famished and in need of some food and a beverage or two to wash it down. There’s no better place in downtown Los Angeles than Grand Central Market, an emporium featuring an eclectic collection of restaurants and shops that opened in October of 1917. Originally named the “Wonder Market”, it was billed as “the largest and finest public market on the Pacific Coast.”
GCM is home to 40 stalls that offer an LA-only assortment of dining options from the China Café, Roast-to-Go which has been here for more than 50 years, Ana Maria tacos and burritos, Bastion Bakery, Bento Ya Japanese boxes, Eggslut, Knead fresh pasta, and so many more great options. There’s even a craft brewery, empanadas, sushi, Korean fare, fried chicken, and an ice cream shop if you just want some dessert.
Making for a wonderful day in the neighborhood, GCM is just one block from City Hall, so you can start or end your day here depending on your schedule.
Auteur: Chizhevskaya Ekaterina
Los Angeles, California - January 7, 2025: Walt Disney Concert Hall features futuristic design and stunning metallic finish, showcasing modern architecture in Los Angeles.
LA’s Civic Center and City Hall Shouldn’t Be Missed
From City Hall to the Broad Museum, the Walt Disney Concert Hall to other great downtown museums, the heart of Los Angeles should be part of everyone’s itinerary. Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Koreatown, and the nearby Arts District are all within minutes, too.
“Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to bend steel with his bare hands. Leap tall buildings with a single bound. It’s Superman!” Imagine him flying by Los Angeles City Hall at eye level as you look out from the observatory deck high above the city.
Tinseltown is looking forward to your visit.
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