With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
HTLA: Up Close And Personal With The Hollywood Sign

Topline:
The Hollywood Sign turns 100 this year. How To LA traveled up to the sign on Mount Lee to talk about its history with Jeff Zarrinnam of The Hollywood Sign Trust.
Why it matters: Along with the city itself, this iconic structure has undergone several changes over the decades. But the sign remains one of the biggest, and most photographed, symbols in L.A. — and the world. Now funds are being raised for an adjacent Visitor Center.
Why now: The early 1920s was a boom time for the city. L.A. officials wanted to build a city that would rival New York. Development took off and, as a result, many of L.A.’s most iconic buildings and sites turn 100 this year, including The Hollywood Sign.
The backstory: By 1923, Hollywood was known as the place where film stars were made. People in the industry were coming to L.A. from the east coast, and the city needed housing. A group of investors bought land in the hills and divided it up to sell lots. To attract homebuyers, developers erected a huge wooden sign with flashing lights declaring the neighborhood “Hollywoodland.” By the 1940s, the city took ownership, dropped the “land” from its name, making the sign an official civic landmark.
See it for yourself: Hike or drive up to the Hollywood Sign. Make sure you stay on authorized hiking trails.
Listen to its whole history in the latest episode of How to LA. You can click on the player below.

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
-
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
-
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead.
-
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.