Lost to the Fires: Significant Los Angeles Landmarks and Historic Sites Affected

By MiNDFOOD

A drone picture shows debris from burned properties, as the Palisades Fire continues in the Los Angeles area, in Malibu, California, U.S. January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake
A drone picture shows debris from burned properties, as the Palisades Fire continues in the Los Angeles area, in Malibu, California, U.S. January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake
In recent days, Los Angeles has faced a sobering reality: devastating wildfires have become a frequent and relentless threat.

As these infernos tear through the hillsides and neighbourhoods, they leave behind not just physical destruction but also an irreplaceable cultural void. Among the losses are historic landmarks and cherished sites that once stood as symbols of the city’s rich history and identity.

While many buildings are considered safe—including the Eames House and Eames Case Study Houses, the Getty Villa, and the Alfred Newman-Martha Montgomery House by Frank Lloyd Wright—others have been reduced to ash.

The Hollywood Sign 

First and foremost, the Hollywood sign “continues to stand tall,” the Hollywood Sign Trust, the non-profit that maintains the iconic landmark, confirmed on its official Instagram account on Sunday, January 12. 

A house burns as powerful winds fueling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area force people to evacuate, at the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, U.S. January 8, 2025. REUTERS/David Swanson

The Getty Villa

The Getty Villa, a Pacific Palisades art museum famous for its Greek and Roman collection, is still threatened by the fires. As of  January 13, both the Getty Center and Getty Villa museums remain safe from the Palisades Fire, and they assured the public they continue to monitor the situation closely via their social media. 

Earlier today, Today, the Getty Museum and a coalition of foundations, arts organisations, and individuals created the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund. Currently at $12M, the fund will support the arts community impacted by the Los Angeles fires.

Topanga State Park

The Palisades fire has scorched parts of Topanga State Park located in the Santa Monica Mountains, California State Parks confirmed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. The Topanga Ranch Motel, a historic 30-room bungalow-style motel built in 1929 by William Randolph Hearst, was also destroyed. Topanga State Park will remain closed until further notice.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Reel Inn Malibu (@reelinnmalibu)

 

Reel Inn

Reel Inn, a family-owned Malibu restaurant known for serving up fresh seafood along the Pacific Coast Highway since the 1980s, did not survive. Owners Teddy and Andy Leonard have created a Gofundme to raise three months of wages, benefits, and support for the restaurant’s staff members: “Our deepest concerns are for our incredible staff and their ongoing support until we know when and if we are able to rebuild and reopen.”

Moonshadows

Another iconic Malibu eatery lost to the fire, oceanfront restaurant Moonshadows burned down during the Palisades Fire on January 8th, 2024. The restaurant is currently accepting donations via Gofundme to support its staff. “Moonshadows was more than a restaurant; it was a legacy and an honor to serve Malibu, sharing sunsets and sea breezes with you,” the Gofundme page reads.

Zane Grey Estate

This home, with elements of Spanish, Mission and Mediterranean Revival design on 1.2 acres west of Lake Avenue, was built by architects Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey in 1907 for Chicago business machine manufacturer Arthur Herbert Woodward. At the time of its construction, it was called the first fire-proof structure in Altadena because it was built of reinforced concrete. (Woodward’s wife had lived through the devastating 1903 Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago, which erupted during a performance, killing more than 600.) The author Zane Grey bought the home in 1920, and he and his wife built a 3,500-square floor addition, including a library and office where Grey (no relation to the architect) used to write. The original cast-iron sconces, iron handrails and chandeliers remained in the house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

LA Landmarks, Film Locations and Celebrity Homes Destroyed in Fires

 

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