The DTLA Tour is a 2-hour architectural and historical walking tour of Downtown Los Angeles. On this guided tour of LA, guests view and learn about the architecture of downtown and find out how the current redevelopment of Downtown Los Angeles is turning a once lifeless mostly business district into a cultural hub and residential haven. In 1997, there were 5,000 people living in Downtown LA, and today that number is more than 50,000 and growing. Historic buildings are being converted into lofts while new modern icons are under construction. Consequently, Downtown LA has a growing portfolio of contemporary architecture that compliments and contrasts with the classical buildings of the early 20th Century seen in the Historic Core.
Downtown LA has a medley of remarkable buildings that tell a unique story about the rise and fall, and rise of Downtown Los Angeles. This distinct collection of architecture is a tangible record of Los Angeles' history, and the buildings themselves were created by some of the most influential and renowned architects in the world. Witness first hand the urban renewal of Downtown Los Angeles, and leave with a better understanding of LA architecture and history.
This LA architecture tour explores the LA Civic Center, the LA Music Center, Grand Park, Bunker Hill, and a portion of the Historic Core. In total, the tour covers approximately two dozen buildings, spanning over a century of LA history. Highlights of the DTLA Tour include an interior tour of the Bradbury Building of 1893; an up-close look at Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall with access to the rooftop garden; and a trip to the Grand Central Market in case you need a pick-me-up.
If you book a tour during the week, Monday-Friday, we visit the City Hall observatory, an open-aired walking terrace that encompasses the perimeter of the building, set behind the columns on the 27th floor. From up above this mostly flat and sprawling city, the tour group gets a 360 degree, bird's eye view of LA and beyond.
Some of the architects and architectural firms represented and discussed on this architecture tour include Frank Gehry, Morphosis, SOM, Allied Architects, AC Martin, Arthur Erickson, Welton Becket and Richard Neutra.
The DTLA Tour is available as a private or group tour, and timing is flexible.
2 person minimum
Length: Approximately 2 hours
Cost:
Adults: $40 Seniors (65+): $35 Students: $35 Children (under 10): $25
To make a booking, please send a message or email: [email protected]
Scroll down for a sample of the architecture in Downtown LA that you'll see on tour.