LA CITY HALL • FREE Observation Deck

LA Observation Deck in City Hall: Los Angeles's Best Free View

Credit to "California Through My Lens" and "Los Angeles Conservancy"

If you are looking for an amazing view of Los Angeles or a free stop in the city, then you really should check out the Observation Deck at the top of LA’s City Hall. This deck provides a 360-degree view of the city and helps you to get above it to give you a new appreciation. The hours are a little difficult for weekend warriors, but if you can get down there when it’s open, you are in for a treat. Here is all the info.

Details

• Free, have to pay for parking though
• Open Mon – Fri: 8-5, closed on the weekends.
• Must check in and get a visitors badge
• The visitor’s entrance is on 201 N Main St Los Angeles, CA 90012
• Might be good idea to call ahead to ensure the observation deck is open - 

  To contact the Los Angeles City Hall directly at (213) 473-3231

Los Angeles Explorers Guild

https://losangelesexplorersguild.com/2022/06/09/city-hall-observation-deck-and-lindbergh-beacon/

• LA CITY HALL HISTORY •

Los Angeles City Hall was completed in 1928, its towering three-tiered form embodying all the energy and ambition of its day. Now seismically stabilized and restored to its original splendor, City Hall stands both as a monument to the era of its creation and as an example of architectural preservation at its best.

Three of Los Angeles’ leading architects, John Parkinson, Albert C. Martin, and John C. Austin, joined together to receive the commission for City Hall in 1925. Parkinson was responsible for the concept and architectural design of the building; Martin, the structural design; and Austin, the working drawings and general administration of the project.

Austin wrote in 1928 that the style of the building was “Modern American.” City Hall was designed to correspond to no specific previous era or style, but rather to incorporate many different elements to produce a unique hybrid. However, although elements such as grand columns and monumental steps leading to the Spring Street entrance recall classical designs, the iconic tower, with its setbacks topped by a stepped pyramid, is very much in the Art Deco style.

The interior design and decoration of City Hall, by architect Austin Whittlesey, associates Los Angeles with great cities of the world, Alexandria, Florence, and Paris, but also acknowledges the exciting new industries of filmmaking, aviation, and automobiles.

City Hall is arguably the city’s most widely recognized landmark and is featured on all official City documents, from commendations to business licenses. The versatility of the building’s eclectic styling has long made it a popular location for film and television productions.

After entering the visitor’s entrance from the address above, you will have to walk through a metal detector, check in with the security guard, and get a visitor pass.

They will also give you directions to the observation deck, which are not as easy then you would anticipate. You need to take two elevators and a set of stairs to get to the top. 

After the second elevator, you will be on the 26th floor, which is the floor with all of the paintings of mayors. They also have bathrooms on this floor if you need it. When ready, you will just walk up to the double staircase to the 27th floor, which is where the observation deck is.

The stairs drop you into a massive room that looked like it was for press meetings as it had a podium and the flag behind it.

• 3rd Floor •

After visiting the deck, we would recommend heading to the 3rd floor, where there are a few pieces from other countries that have been given or donated to the city.

Credit to "California Through My Lens"  and "Los Angeles Conservancy"

For more terrific things to do in Los Angeles

https://californiathroughmylens.com/things-to-do-downtown-la/