Hollyhock House and Barnsdall Art Park | Los Angeles UNESCO Heritage Site

I’ve always enjoyed going to Barnsdall Art Park, located on the top of Mt. Olive in East Hollywood, and frequently took my kids there when they were little. It offers an incredible view of Hollywood, Downtown, and even the ocean on a clear day. Picnickers love to come up with gourmet meals they’ve purchased down below to enjoy the vast city panorama and socialize with their friends.

Watch my video walking tour

Aline Barnsdall

Aline Barnsdall was an oil heiress and unconventional patron of the arts. She purchased the 36-acre property in 1919 and envisioned turning it into a progressive art and theater community. In her younger years, she had toured Europe and developed an interest in feminism and other “radical” causes. Before moving to Los Angeles, she directed experimental theater in Chicago.

When her father died, she inherited 3 million dollars making her a wealthy woman. She also became an unwed mother in 1917 to a daughter she called “Sugartop” but did not care that it was scandalous at the time.

After directing Little Theater in Los Angeles, her interest in the arts compelled her to create a community for progressive artists. To do this, she commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design a home and art center for her on Mt. Olive. She asked Wright to incorporate the Hollyhock into the design as it was her favorite flower.

Construction took place between 1919 – 1921. However, Wright was also designing the Imperial Hotel in Japan which caused delays. He was eventually fired because of costs, and his assistant architects Rudolph Schindler, Richard Neutra, and Wright’s son Lloyd Wright completed the home and two guest houses. Only one guest house still stands today.

The art center was not realized until much later. Barnsdall had tired of the idea and felt the home did not fulfill her needs. She sold the property to the City of Los Angeles in 1927, much to Wright’s chagrin.

The unique artistry of Hollyhock House

Hollyhock House is one of eight Frank Lloyd Wright sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is owned by the City of Los Angeles and operated by the Department of Cultural Affairs. Its design has been called California Modern but it is so unique it cannot be categorized as a style.

Wright described the home as Mayan, Aztec, Egyptian, and “California Romanza.” It originally had seventeen rooms and seven bathrooms.

Barnsdall Art Park

When Aline Barnsdall sold the property to the city it was dedicated to her father Theodore Barnsdall.

The Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Park curates contemporary art. The gallery is open sporadically producing nine exhibitions each year. The 299-seat theater is rented out by various groups and is owned and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Both venues were built in 1954.

Festivals and events take place on the property throughout the year.

Barnsdall Art Park

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