Hollywood Sign: the hillside billboard that became Los Angeles
Published on 09/23/2026 at 12:18 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Hollywood Sign is a large white letter installation on Mount Lee in Griffith Park, above Los Angeles. Its present form spells “HOLLYWOOD” across the southern hillside, while its 1923 beginning was the longer word “HOLLYWOODLAND”.
From Hollywoodland billboard to Hollywood Sign
The original sign appeared in 1923 as an advertisement for the Hollywoodland housing development in Beachwood Canyon. It was a temporary billboard made from large metal panels, framing and supporting poles, with thirteen letters spelling the development’s name.
The original letters were about 13 metres (43 ft) high and 9 metres (30 ft) wide. The display also carried lighting, giving the advertising structure a presence after dark. Its first identity belonged to property promotion, not the film studios below the hills.
Thirteen letters reduced to eight
The word “LAND” disappeared in 1949, leaving “HOLLYWOOD”. The shortened sign connected the hillside with the district and the wider film culture associated with Los Angeles.
Years of exposure damaged the earlier structure, and the sign was rebuilt in 1978. The replacement letters are about 14 metres (45 ft) high, and the complete word extends roughly 107 metres (350 ft) across the slope.
Mount Lee, Griffith Park and the city below
The sign stands on the steep southern face of Mount Lee in Griffith Park, within the eastern Santa Monica Mountains. It faces Hollywood and the Los Angeles Basin, so the letters can be seen from many parts of the city.
The sign is a landmark rather than an entrance building. Fences and protected ground separate the public from the letters, while trails in Griffith Park lead to viewpoints near or behind the hillside installation. The steep hillside setting remains central to its appearance.
The sign’s civic status also belongs to its history. Los Angeles designated it a Cultural-Historical Monument in 1973, and the rebuilt version dates from 1978. The 1923 Hollywoodland billboard survives in memory through the shorter word displayed on Mount Lee.
Visiting Hollywood Sign: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The sign is in Griffith Park on Mount Lee, above Los Angeles. Griffith Observatory, Canyon Drive and the park’s trail network provide named approaches and viewing areas.
- The terrain is steep and hilly, with walking routes across exposed slopes and paved service roads. The letters remain behind barriers, so the public views them from designated ground.
- The official language is English and the currency is the United States dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Hollywood Sign on social platforms
These links open searches for Hollywood Sign on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Hollywood Sign
Where is Hollywood Sign?
Hollywood Sign is on Mount Lee in Griffith Park, above Hollywood in Los Angeles. The hillside belongs to the eastern Santa Monica Mountains.
What can visitors expect on a visit?
Visitors can see the letters from viewpoints and trails in Griffith Park. The approach crosses steep terrain, and barriers separate the public from the structure.
What makes Hollywood Sign distinctive?
Its identity combines an enormous white word, a 1923 advertising origin and a later role as a symbol of Los Angeles film culture.
