Los Angeles is known for its movie stars and palm-lined streets, but the city holds plenty of surprises. From hidden rivers to the city’s oldest house on Olvera Street, built in 1818, LA is filled with history and quirks most visitors never hear about. These interesting and fun facts about Los Angeles reveal a side of the city that even some locals miss.
If you want to experience these places in person, our tours bring them to life. Our Half Day Best of LA Tour covers the highlights in half a day, the Celebrity Homes Tour shows you Hollywood’s glamorous side, and the Perfect Day in LA Tour combines both for the ultimate experience.
1. The Hollywood Sign Used to Say Hollywoodland
The Hollywood Sign is one of the most recognized landmarks in the world, but it began in 1923 as an advertisement for a real estate development called “Hollywoodland” The sign was only meant to last 18 months, yet it quickly became a symbol of the city and eventually had its last four letters removed to stand as simply “Hollywood.”
The sign almost fell into ruin in the 1970s until a fundraising effort saved it, with stars like Hugh Hefner and Alice Cooper helping cover the cost of restoration. Today, the sign represents the dream of the city itself.
On our Half Day Best of LA Tour, you’ll visit the Griffith Observatory and get sweeping photo opportunities of both the sign and the city skyline.
2. LA Has the Largest Historic Theater District in the U.S.
Downtown Los Angeles is home to the largest concentration of historic movie palaces in the country. Along Broadway, more than a dozen theaters were built in the 1910s and 1920s, when film was booming and Los Angeles was cementing its place in entertainment history. Some have been restored as concert venues, while others remain quietly hidden behind storefronts.
Beneath downtown Los Angeles runs a network of tunnels once used during Prohibition to move people and liquor between bars and theaters. Many locals walk past these buildings every day without realizing the history above and below them.
3. The Stars on the Walk of Fame Go Beyond Actors
The Hollywood Walk of Fame isn’t only for movie stars. Musicians, directors, producers, radio hosts, and even fictional characters like Mickey Mouse and Godzilla all have stars on Hollywood Boulevard. Today, more than 2,700 stars line the sidewalks, making it one of the most visited attractions in the Los Angeles area.
What many visitors don’t know about Los Angeles is that anyone can nominate a celebrity for a star, though it requires both approval and a sponsorship fee. This means the Walk reflects not just Hollywood’s history but also its evolving culture, with new names added every year.
4. There’s a River Beneath Downtown
The Los Angeles River shaped the city’s early growth. Long before freeways, it provided the water that made settlement possible. Today, much of the river runs in concrete channels, and in downtown Los Angeles sections of it even flow beneath the city itself.
The river’s importance grew with the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913, which delivered fresh water from the Owens Valley to support a rapidly expanding population. This moment changed the history of Los Angeles and made it possible for the region to grow into the metropolis it is today.
5. Hidden Oil Derricks in the City
One of the stranger Los Angeles facts is that active oil wells are still pumping within the city. Many are tucked behind decorative facades that make them look like office buildings or soundstages. Unless you know where to look, you’d never realize the greater Los Angeles area produces millions of barrels of oil each year.
City oversight, managed through Los Angeles City Hall and regional agencies, keeps these operations regulated. Yet they remain a surprising reminder that Los Angeles is also an oil town as much as it is an entertainment capital.
6. LA Has More Museums Per Capita Than Any Other U.S. City
Los Angeles has many museums, covering everything from ancient fossils to contemporary neon art. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, also known as LACMA, is the largest art museum in the western United States, while smaller institutions like the Museum of Neon Art highlight the city’s unique cultural landscape.
This wide range reflects the diversity of culture in Los Angeles. Whether you’re into science, history, or the arts, there’s a museum here for you.
7. The La Brea Tar Pits Bubble in the Middle of the City
In the heart of Los Angeles, you’ll find the La Brea Tar Pits — an active Ice Age fossil site surrounded by museums, skyscrapers, and city life. For more than a century, scientists have unearthed remains of mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and other prehistoric animals here.
It’s one of the few places in the world where you can watch paleontologists at work in the middle of a major city. Right next door, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art makes this area a hub for both science and culture in Los Angeles.
8. Los Angeles Is a City of Neighborhoods
Los Angeles is made up of more than 400 neighborhoods, each with its own identity. East Los Angeles is known for its strong cultural traditions and family-run restaurants. Westlake blends historic architecture with a thriving immigrant community. Silver Lake and Echo Park highlight creative energy, while Beverly Hills and Bel-Air showcase glamour and wealth.
Together, these districts form the region of Los Angeles, a place where cultures intersect and the city continually evolves.
See LA Come to Life
Facts are fun, but the best way to experience Los Angeles is out on the streets. Our tours take you from Hollywood Boulevard to Beverly Hills and beyond, with guides who bring the city’s stories to life.
9. Marilyn Monroe’s First Job Was Building Drones
Before she became a Hollywood legend, Marilyn Monroe worked at a defense factory in the Los Angeles area during World War II. She helped assemble parts for target drones used in military training, earning steady wages while contributing to the war effort.
This interesting fact shows how the city grew during the 1940s, not only as the center of the film industry but also as a hub for manufacturing and innovation. Monroe’s story connects Hollywood glamour with the city’s broader history of resilience and creativity.
10. Some Landmarks Almost Disappeared
Just like the Hollywood Sign, many of Los Angeles’ most famous landmarks were once at risk. Griffith Observatory needed major renovations to reopen in the early 2000s, and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum nearly fell into decline before preservation efforts restored its place as a sports and cultural icon.
These stories show how Los Angeles is still committed to saving the landmarks that define its history and identity.
11. Palm Trees Are Not Native
Palm trees may be one of the first images that come to mind when people picture southern California, but they are not native to the region. Most of the palms lining Los Angeles streets today were planted in the 1930s as part of city beautification projects leading up to the Olympic Games.
Although many are now nearing the end of their natural lifespan, the trees remain a lasting symbol of Los Angeles. The city gets its reputation for sun, style, and cinematic backdrops in part from these towering palms that frame so many classic views.
12. The Oldest House in LA Dates to 1818
On Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles stands the Avila Adobe, built in 1818. This pueblo de nuestra señora la reina de los ángeles del río is the oldest surviving house in the city. Its adobe walls once sheltered families through earthquakes, floods, and the city’s early growth.
Visitors today can walk through restored rooms and imagine what life was like more than 200 years ago. The Avila Adobe connects modern Los Angeles to its origins and remains a symbol of the city’s resilience.
13. LA Was Home to the World’s First Movie Studio
Before Hollywood became synonymous with filmmaking, the world’s first movie studio opened in Edendale, an area now part of Echo Park. This early hub produced silent films that helped launch Los Angeles as the center of the industry.
This fact about LA shows how the city became part of film history long before the Walk of Fame or studio backlots. Los Angeles is the largest film production center in the world today, but it all traces back to those modest beginnings in Edendale.
14. Celebrity Homes Extend Beyond Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills may be famous for its palm-lined streets and luxury shopping, but many celebrities live in other parts of Los Angeles County. The Hollywood Hills, Bel-Air, Malibu, and even hidden canyons throughout the region attract stars looking for privacy and space.
This detail highlights how Los Angeles is one of the few places where entertainment, lifestyle, and geography all intersect. Every neighborhood offers a different backdrop, making the city as diverse in its homes as it is in its culture.
15. Reinvention Is Part of the City’s DNA
Los Angeles is a city that thrives on reinvention. Union Station, once the last of the great railway terminals, now serves both commuters and visitors as a busy transit hub. The Los Angeles Zoo continues to modernize exhibits for new generations, while historic districts are reimagined with galleries, markets, and creative spaces.
Looking ahead, Los Angeles will host the Olympic Games again in 2028, showcasing how the city covers both its historic roots and its global future. Reinvention is woven into the identity of Los Angeles, making it a place that never stops evolving.
Bonus Fun Facts About Los Angeles
- Prohibition Tunnels: Beneath parts of downtown Los Angeles are remnants of tunnels once used during Prohibition for moving liquor and people between hidden bars.
- Taco Capital: With more than 4,000 taco stands and trucks, Los Angeles is considered the taco capital of the United States.
- Angels Flight Railway: At just 298 feet long, Angels Flight in downtown is known as the world’s shortest railway.
- Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel: The pier’s iconic Ferris wheel is solar powered, offering ocean and city views with a sustainable twist.
- Sepulveda Boulevard: Stretching nearly 43 miles, Sepulveda is one of the longest streets in the country, separating the Los Angeles Basin from the San Fernando Valley.
- Magic Castle: This historic Hollywood mansion is home to the Academy of Magical Arts, where magicians and illusions take center stage.
- Traffic Lore: The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority manages one of the busiest transit networks in the U.S., and local “sigalerts” have become part of city culture.
Tips for Visitors
- Plan for distance: Los Angeles covers a huge area, and travel times can be longer than expected. Build extra time into your schedule.
- Check the weather: While the city gets plenty of sunshine, evenings near the coast can be cool. Layers are a smart choice.
- Stay hydrated: Whether you’re walking Hollywood Boulevard or exploring Griffith Park, carry water — especially in summer.
- Parking is tricky: Downtown Los Angeles and popular neighborhoods often have limited parking. Read signs carefully to avoid tickets.
- Mix landmarks with local stops: Pair big-name sights like City Hall or the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with neighborhood markets, taco stands, and smaller museums for a more authentic experience.
- Use transit when it helps: The Los Angeles Metro Bus and Metro Rail connect many parts of the city and can save you time during rush hour.
Your Best Los Angeles Experience Starts Here
Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the United States, filled with history, culture, and countless stories. From Ice Age fossils to Hollywood legends, from diverse neighborhoods to modern icons, there’s always something new to discover.
The challenge is size — Los Angeles covers hundreds of square miles, and it’s easy to miss the highlights on your own. That’s where Hollywood Bus Tours comes in. The Half Day Best of LA Tour gives you the essential sights in one efficient loop, the Celebrity Homes Tour takes you into Hollywood’s glamorous side, and the Perfect Day in LA Tour combines them for the most complete experience.
Our guides bring landmarks to life with local insight, humor, and stories you won’t find in a guidebook. If you want to truly know Los Angeles, our tours are the best way to see it all in less time and with more fun.
