Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign is an American landmark and cultural icon that overlooks Hollywood, California, Los Angeles. It is located at Mount Lee, in the Santa Monica Mountains area of Hollywood Hills. “HOLLYWOOD” is spelled out in capital letters of 45-foot-tall white and is 350 feet long.

Quick facts

• Name: Hollywood Sign
• Location: Los Angeles, USA
• Type of attraction: Sign
• Completed: 1923
• Ticket price: Free

The sign appears frequently in popular culture, especially in setting up shots for movies and television programs set in or around Hollywood. Visitors can walk from the Bronson Canyon entrance into Griffith Park or from the Griffith Observatory to the sign.

There is also a trail outside Griffith Park near the Lake Hollywood Reservoir, and although not an access point in itself, there is a popular panoramic viewpoint near the trail around Lake Hollywood Park.

The Hollywood Sign overlooks Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, and is a recognized American landmark and a prominent cultural icon. This specific home is located on Mount Lee, in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of the Santa Monica Mountains.

It was constructed at a 45-foot (13.7-meter) white capital letter height and with a sign that was 350 feet (106.7-meter) long, so it was made for a brief period of time as a short-term advertisement for a local real estate development, but then it became more widely recognized, so the sign remained up.

One of the most widely recognized landmarks in California and the United States, the sign appears frequently in popular culture, appearing in numerous establishing shots for films and television programs set in or around Hollywood. While you may see instances of a similar spelling but a different word, it’s more often categorized as a parody. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce holds the rights to the Hollywood Sign, which has trademark rights.

Many people recognize the sign and recognize it from many locations throughout the Los Angeles Basin, so it has often been the target of practical jokes and graffiti throughout the years. Following the robbery, the building underwent restoration, including the installation of a security system to deter further damage.

The Hollywood Sign is protected and promoted by the Hollywood Sign Trust, which is supported by charitable groups, while the area and the adjacent land are owned by the Los Angeles city government and operated by the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department.

Those visitors can reach the sign from either the Bronson Canyon entrance to Griffith Park or from Griffith Observatory. Also, there is a trailhead located near the Lake Hollywood Reservoir in Griffith Park, and although it is not an access point in itself, there is a popular scenic vista point around Lake Hollywood Park that is located near the trailhead.

Interesting facts about Hollywood Sign

Here are some interesting facts about this famous landmark:

• The Sign’s original purpose was to advertise real estate – Hollywoodland.
• The original sign was illuminated by 4,000  lightbulbs.
• The original letters were replaced, they were either decayed or destroyed by arsonist.

Read more: Interesting facts about Hollywood Sign