Hollywood Sign

Los Angeles, CA, United States

---

The Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, California, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world—a towering emblem of the entertainment industry and the dreams it inspires. Perched high on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills, the sign originally read “Hollywoodland” when it was erected in 1923 as a temporary advertisement for a real estate development.

Over time, it became a symbol of the burgeoning film industry and the allure of fame, with the “land” portion removed in 1949 to reflect its broader cultural significance. Each of the sign’s nine white letters stands 45 feet tall and together stretch 450 feet across the hillside. Though it has been rebuilt and restored multiple times—most notably in 1978 with durable steel and concrete footings—it retains its iconic silhouette and continues to appear in countless films, TV shows, and photographs.

The sign is not illuminated at night, adding to its mystique, and while visitors can hike to viewpoints in Griffith Park, direct access to the sign itself is restricted to preserve its integrity. Today, the Hollywood Sign is more than just a marker on a hill—it’s a beacon of ambition, creativity, and the enduring magic of storytelling.