Category: Landmarks

Berendo Stairs to Griffith Observatory in Los Feliz

Looking for some adventure in Los Feliz? Try finding all of the hidden staircases in Los Angeles, starting with the Berendo Stairs that lead to the Griffith Observatory. Spending a day on a walk looking for a hidden staircase is a great opportunity to get some exercise and mix up your daily routine.

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Photo Credit: https://eat-n-explore.blogspot.com/2010/07/berendo-stairs-to-griffith-park.html

Los Feliz is a neighborhood in Los Angeles that covers approximately two and half square miles. It is bordered by the Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood. It was originally Rancho Los Feliz, and it eventually became the birthplace of Mickey Mouse when Walt Disney drew the famous character in his uncle’s garage. Los Feliz is also the home to Disney’s first animation studio and many celebrities who live there. You can view two of Frank Lloyd Wright’s original designs in Los Feliz: the Ennis House and the Hollyhock House.

The entrance to the Berendo Stairs (created in 1924) is located at Berendo Street and Cromwell Avenue. The stairs are recognized by the city as having historical status. There is a resting stop at the midpoint of the stairs (there are 181 steps in total) where there are two benches to sit on. This is a beautiful and romantic spot in the summer, covered by bougainvillea flowers.

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Photo Credit: https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/content/stairs-top

To get to the Griffith Observatory, make your way up the Berendo Stairs, go up a second set of stairs, and eventually you’ll come across a dirt path that will take you to the observatory. From the Griffith Observatory, you’ll be able to see the Hollywood Sign and Downtown L.A. Eat-n-Explore has some detailed directions here.

The Griffith Observatory, which opened in 1935 and was renovated in 2002, is named after Colonel Griffith J. Griffith. It covers about 3,000 acres of land and features an art deco interior and educational displays on astronomy. Admission to the observatory is free. You can also view the Ennis House from here, which was built in 1924 and was featured in the film Blade Runner.

If you haven’t done so already, spend some visiting Griffith Park. It covers about 4,000 acres, and it has a lot to offer for those with different activities and interests in mind. People go to the park to play tennis, hike the trails, use the equestrian trails, have picnics, ride the train, and go golfing. You can also see the Hollywood Sign from the park, visit the Los Angeles Zoo, and see the Autry National Center. The park is open between 5:00 pm and 10:30 pm.

Here are some other “secret” staircases to put on your list as you explore L.A.:

-Music Box Steps

-Baxter Stairways

-Santa Monica Stairs

-Beachwood Canyon Stairs (This one is 800 steps!)

Have fun exploring the stairs in Los Angeles!

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The Gamble House

The Gamble House is tucked neatly into the neighborhood sandwiched between the Arroyo Seco Park and Old Pasadena. The Gamble House is a testimony to both traditional American architecture and the fusion of cultures and ideals that have made Los Angeles such a unique city. Offering affordable tours Thursday through Sunday, the Gamble House offers a cultivated experience for those interested in architecture, Pasadena history, or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

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Photo Credit: Martin Green

The Gamble house was designed as a pleasant winter residence for David and Mary Gamble. David Gamble was a second generation member of the Procter & Gamble Company, and was retired at the turn of the 20 century. After spending some years in retirement in the vicinity of Pasadena, the Gambles decided to build a permanent home. In 1908 the Gamble House’s lot was chosen on a the short, private street known as Westmoreland Place, purposefully avoiding South Orange Grove, aka “Millionaires Row.”

While selecting their lot, the Gambles met the architect John Cole and his coworkers from the Greene & Greene architectural firm. Impressed by their work, the Gambles solicited the architects to begin working closely with Greene & Greene to design their new home. The draft of the house was completed in February of 1908, and ten months later the home was complete. David and Mary Gamble moved into the house and lived there until their deaths in 1923 and 1928 respectively. The Gamble family continued to own the house until 1966, when the city of Pasadena, along with the University of Southern California School of Architecture, purchased the house and began its transformation into a testimony to American Architecture.
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Photo Credit: Deasey/Penner

The Gamble house blends a variety of wood, including teak, maple, oak, cedar, and mahogany into sequences seeking to reveal contrast in the home. All of the furniture, custom built and designed by the architects, matches the inlay and surroundings of the home. Although the home was not quite as daring as some of its architectural siblings, the home’s design has lasted the test of time, blending localized symmetrical spaces and forms to create an overall asymmetrical house. This mix of localized order in contrast to the greater disorder creates an unmistakable and unique style that belongs solely to the Gamble House.

If you’re a student of architecture, someone with a taste for history, or are simply looking to visit a magnificent home, check out the Gamble House’s guided tours!

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