The History and Architecture of Koreatown

We will meet at the Vermont and Wilshire Metro. That's right! LA has a subway, and it is expanding! I'll tell you about the LA Metro's big plans for the 2028 Olympics and why it is so difficult to develop a subway in a city like Los Angeles. We will discuss the transportation system that LA used to have and then we will head off to see or first big building, which will tie together more elements of LA transportation history.(pass by)

We will start and end the tour with two different art deco masterpieces on Wilshire Blvd. The Bullocks Wilshire was designed during the 1920s, as LA fell head-over-heels in love with the automobile. This art deco department store is a perfect example of how LA began began designing a city that prioritized this new mode of travel.(pass by)

The tour will loop around and start heading west. As we make our way back to Wilshire, I'll show you a couple of the famous film locations in Koreatown, like the outside of Seinfeld's apartment!(pass by)

Sometimes, LA history is hiding in the most unassuming places. The Brown Derby was a chain of restaurants where you could "eat in the hat!" That's right, some of the restaurants were shaped like a giant derby hat, and that hat was stuffed to the brim with old Hollywood celebrities. I'll show you how the Brown Derby lives on today at a modern K Town shopping center.(pass by)

Nothing remains of the once-famous, now infamous, Abassador Hotel. From celebrity parties to political assassinations, you'll hear about the hotel's most storied moments and learn what happened to this legendary LA establishment.(pass by)

The tour includes some of LA's most impressive churches and temples in one short stretch of Wilshire Blvd. Few can impress like the 1929 Wilshire Blvd Temple. I'll show you detailed pictures of the interior, while you get a chance to admire the temple from the outside.(pass by)

Right next to the Wilshire Blvd Temple is one of the most striking modern buildings in LA - The Audrey Irmas Pavilion. 100 years of architectural progress is represented on one block and it makes you excited about architecture tours 100 years from today!(pass by)

The tour will wrap up with a look at one of LA's most impressive art deco theatres. The Wiltern is a textbook example of art deco, sure to impress any fan of the style. We will discuss the architecture, but I will also tell you all about the connections to Warner Bros and how the theatre operates today!(pass by)

The tour will end at fhe Wilshire and Western Metro Station. The walk back will take about 20 minutes, but you might take even longer now that you know about some of the best places to grab Korean BBQ! The train will get you back in just a few minutes (only 2 stops fron the start), and I will be there to help with the train if you have questions about how to get tickets, cost, etc...(pass by)