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LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture: Private Walking Tour in Los Angeles, CA

Travel CuriousUnder the arches of Los Angeles City Hall main entranceLos Angeles, CA 90012
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Starting at
$288.00
INSTANT CONFIRMATION
NO SERVICE FEES

Overview

Explore hidden architectural gems of downtown LA on a private Los Angeles architecture tour. Get a full introduction to the Art-Deco and Beaux-Arts styles as you admire landmarks like LA’s City Hall, the Bradbury Building and Pershing Square. Your expert guide will take you through the jewelry district and a bit of Santee Alley, and share insider tips.

up to 3 hrs 1 or more people

Good To Know

  • Learn about the Art Deco and Beaux-Arts movement that defined downtown LA's architecture!
  • Tour is approx. 3 hours.
  • Appropriate for all ages.
  • Food, drinks and transportation are not included on this tour.
  • This is an exclusive guided walking tour, it will be just you, your group and your guide.

Description

from LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture: Private Walking Tour
Immerse yourself in the largely unknown architectural splendor of downtown Los Angeles, and explore some of the most incredible buildings of geometric patterns, brilliant colors, and luxurious materials that characterized Art Deco and its predecessor, Beaux Art.

On your private walking tour, you will:
  • Begin your tour at the Los Angeles City Hall, an iconic building in the city used in the films industry many times due to its eclectic style;
  • Head towards the LA Courthouse, an Art Moderne architecture example;
  • Admire the Bradbury Building, a recognized landmark in LA and one of the oldest surviving Beau-Arts architecture buildings downtown;
  • Walk to Title Guarantee Building from 1930, a former office building now loft-style apartments which showcase the verticality of Art Deco style;
  • Explore Pershing Square where your tour guide will tell you about Art Deco and Beaux Art that precedes that period and show an example of a Beaux-Arts building which is the 1925 Biltmore hotel;
  • Discover the CalEdison building from 1931 on a prominent corner where you might be able to enter to see spectacular types of marble on the floor and columns;
  • See Los Angeles Central Library from 1926, an example of an early Art Deco style saved from demolition in 1978 by Los Angeles Conservatory;
  • Pass by PacMutual original from 1908 that resembles a Greek temple which was remodeled in the 1930s to give it an Art Deco look;
  • Admire the Oviatt Building, with parts built in the Romanesque Revival style and others changed to resemble the Art Deco style after the owner visited the Paris exposition in 1925;
  • See the Fox Jewelry Plaza, originally called the William Fox Building in the jewelry district of Fox Movie Theatre Company from back East.;
  • See the Ninth and Broadway building from 1930, an elegant office building where you might see the lobby;
  • End your tour at the spectacular Eastern Columbia Building with its iconic clock tower and the spectacular greenish terra cotta originally built as a department store, now luxury condominiums one still owned by Johnny Depp.

When one thinks about Los Angeles, images of beaches, Beverly Hills, sunshine, and the glamorous life of the rich and the famous all come to mind, but what about downtown LA? For years, downtown was rarely seen as safe, let alone as a major travel destination. But in recent years, all of that has changed, especially as businesses and developers clean up some of the city’s recognizable high rises, which were largely built in the 1920s and 1930s in spectacular art-deco fashion.

On your private tour, you will see glimmering marble columns, an art-deco library saved from demolition, Greek temples, and buildings designed to emulate the Paris exposition of 1925. You’ll wander through the jewelry district and see one of LA’s old movie theatre companies, which still evokes the feelings of ‘Old Hollywood’. Your tour will end in Santee Alley, where your guide will take you through a bit of the market before parting with you.

Your guide will be the best source of food advice for downtown, so be sure not to miss out on all the spots where you can go on a culinary adventure.

Inclusions:
  • Private guide.
  • Plenty of time to take photos of your favorite places.

Exclusions:
  • Gratuities, food & drink are not included.
  • Transportation.
  • Hotel pickup/drop-off.
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LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture: Private Walking Tour is located at Travel CuriousUnder the arches of Los Angeles City Hall main entranceLos Angeles, CA 90012
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Frequently Asked Questions about LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture: Private Walking Tour

Where is the meeting point for this Travel Curious tour?

You will be meeting your guide for LA's Art Deco Architecture tour under the arches of Los Angeles City Hall main entrance, located at 200 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States. Please be at the location 10-15 minutes prior to your tour.

How long is this Travel Curious tour?

The entire Downtown LA private walking tour is approximately 3 hours.

What is included in the tour package?

The tour includes a local English-speaking guide, and an expertly guided walking tour.

Is transportation included?

Transportation is not included in this Downtown LA Architecture tour.

Is parking provided?

No, but there are multiple parking garages and street parking available near the departure point. One of which is the Union Station West Parking Lots (via Patsaouras Plaza/Metro parking structures at Vignes/Cesar Chavez Streets) which charges according to length of stay, time of the day, and day of the week. Max daily charge is $8 per day.

Are there any age/physical/health/etc. restrictions for this tour?

This tour is suitable for all ages. All guests must be at moderate physical fitness as the majority of the LA Architecture Tour will be spent walking.

What should I bring?

Bring your camera and cash on hand for any other purchases or gratuities (optional).

What should I wear?

Comfortable, casual clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended.

How many people are on a tour?

This tour is 100% exclusive, which means that it will just be you, your group and your guide on the tour.

How does Travel Curious ensure the quality of their guides?

All tour guides currently active go through a vetting process in which they carry out interviews, check previous reviews and employers references if applicable. More importantly, they make sure that these guides provide an excellent experience for the guests.