L.A. Conservancy leads a tour of Art Deco architect in Downtown Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Conservancy is a nonprofit historic preservation organization that works to preserve and revitalize historic buildings, places and neighborhoods in Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. It is the largest historic preservation organization in Los Angeles County and, with more than 7,000 members and 400 volunteers, the largest membership-based local preservation organization in the United States.
The Conservancy initially formed in 1978 to join efforts to save the Los Angeles Central Library (built 1926) from demolition. Since then, it has worked with business, government and developers to find ways to preserve Los Angeles’ historic buildings. Some of their successes are the preservation of the Bullocks Wilshire (opened 1929 as one of the first Art Deco structures built in the United States), the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana (opened 1876 and L.A.’s Roman Catholic cathedral for more than 100 years), the Wiltern Theater (completed 1931 with the building considered one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the nation) and the oldest operating McDonald's restaurant located in Downey.
The Conservancy’s vision is Los Angeles as a place that values its past and considers the past as an essential part of its present and future.
Walking Tours
The Conservancy is known for its popular weekend walking tours that regularly offer docent-guided tours of the architecture and history of historic downtown landmarks, the Angelino Heights historic neighborhood, Art Deco architecture in Downtown Los Angeles, the Broadway Historic Theatre District, the Millennium Biltmore Hotel and Union Station. On a personal note, we at the Los Angeles Almanac joined some of the Conservancy walking tours and highly recommend them.
Los Angeles Conservancy
523 W Sixth St, Ste 826,
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Telephone: (213) 623-2489
The Los Angeles Central Library, the Los Angeles Conservancy's debut preservation project in 1978. Los Angeles Almanac Photo.
