Hollyhock House & the Barnsdall Art Park

Up the Hill

Barnsdall Art Park starts at a busy corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vermont Avenue, beside a shopping-center parking lot. The street side doesn’t promise much. Then you climb the stairs or drive the winding road up Olive Hill, the traffic noise drops, and you’re on an open hilltop with olive trees, tall pines, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House sitting low on the crest.

The park covers about 11.5 acres. You can walk end to end in a few minutes, but a lot is packed in: a landmark house, a public art gallery, a theater, and an art school, all a short stroll apart.

Hollyhock House

Most people come for the house, and it earns the trip. Wright designed it for Aline Barnsdall, and her favorite flower shows up everywhere, abstracted into concrete trim, art glass, and furniture. Inside, low passages open into a living room anchored by a sculpted concrete fireplace under a skylight. Nearly every major room steps out to a terrace, courtyard, or garden.

Tours are self-guided, with docents stationed in the rooms who are happy to point out details you’d walk past. Plan on about an hour. The house is open only Thursday through Saturday, and timed tickets can sell out, so book ahead. You’ll wear shoe covers, and flash photography, tripods, and large bags aren’t allowed.

The Gallery and the Art School

Just east of the house, the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery runs free exhibitions centered on Los Angeles artists. The building is a plain 1970s box, but the shows inside can be big and ambitious.

The Barnsdall Arts Center and Junior Arts Center offer low-cost classes for adults and kids. On weekdays you’ll see students carrying canvases and clay between buildings. The Junior Arts Center Gallery shows work by kids and community artists.

Views, Olives, and Picnics

The grounds are free and open daily from 6am to 10pm, long after the buildings close. Spread a blanket on the lawn and you get Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Hills to the north and the downtown skyline to the southeast. Late afternoon brings the best light for photos.

The olive grove dates to the 1890s and is being replanted, so you’ll see young trees mixed in with the old ones. There’s no café on the hill, so bring your own food and water. On summer Fridays, ticketed wine nights fill the west lawn with music, food vendors, and wine pours, and the proceeds support the park.

Planning Your Visit

Thursday, Friday, or Saturday between 11am and 4pm is the window when both Hollyhock House and the gallery are open. Book the house first, then plan the rest of your visit around it. On-site parking is limited and first come, first served, with accessible spaces in the Hollyhock House motor court. The Metro B Line’s Vermont/Sunset station is a short walk away.

If you park at the bottom or arrive on foot, expect stairs or a steady climb. Once you’re up top, paved paths connect everything.