The Los Angeles Conservancy has selected the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles as the featured neighborhood of its annual one-time-only fall tour on Sunday, November 10, 10 AM to 4 PM. This year’s history and architecture tour will also include an first-ever bicycling component curated by Melissa Richardson Banks aka Downtown Muse to supplement the traditional walking format.
One of the city’s most popular neighborhoods, the Arts District offers unique industrial architecture, and because of its artistic identity, allows tour goers the chance to see artists in their creative spaces. (NOTE: Artists A.S. Ashley and David Hollen in the 810 E. 3rd St. loft building are among those whose studios will be open for the tour. Stay tuned here for updates! If you are an artist who lives and works in the Arts District, click HERE to send me an email if your studio is open that day.)
According to Sarah Weber, the Conservancy’s Director of Education, the focus of the event is to highlight the history of the neighborhood and its current transformation today, demonstrating the way industrial buildings have been re-used and adapted to meet changing needs over time. Recently, the Conservancy has been working in the Arts District in its advocacy efforts with James K. Pickle Works Building (also known as the Citizens Warehouse), the exterior of which is included in the tour.
The tour is ticketed, includes volunteers and docents to help interpret designated buildings, and offers scripted tour booklets, self-guided walking guides, and of course, the bicycling option curated by Downtown Muse.
Sunday, November 10
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Tickets go on sale the week of October 7.
$30 Conservancy Members :: $35 General Public
$15 Students :: $10 Children 12 and under
For updates and to buy tickets (after October 7), visit the Los Angeles Conservancy website.
TOUR SITES (subject to change)
- Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) – interior and exterior (orig. Santa Fe Freight Depot, 1922)
- Angel City Brewery – interior and exterior (orig. John A. Roebling’s Sons Co. Wire Works Building, 1913)
- Citizens Warehouse and Art Dock – exterior (orig. James K. Hill and Sons Pickle Works, 1888)
- Challenge Cream and Butter Association Building – private lofts (1926)
- Toy Factory Lofts (orig. Star Truck Warehousing Company, 1924) – private lofts
- Biscuit Company Lofts – private loft (orig. National Biscuit Company Building, 1925)
HOW THE TOUR WORKS
Like most of the Conservancy’s one-time-only spring and fall tours, the tour is self-paced. Attendees can visit as many of the tour sites as they’d like (or can) during the designated hours. At certain sites, Conservancy docents will be on hand to provide interpretation and mini-tours. Along the way, tour goers can explore shops, galleries, and eateries in the area on their own. The event is a collection of docent-led tours, not a bus tour. Attendees park and check in at one of two pre-designated locations, then walk (or bike) to the tour sites nearby. Cars may have to be re-parked once during the tour. Seeing all sites will take about 4-5 hours. Photography may be limited in some interiors. The Arts District is a bike-friendly neighborhood (and encompasses a 52-block area), so attendees are encouraged to ride bicycles!
~ COVER PHOTO: Purple tree and street art on 2nd St. near Challenge Creamery building © Melissa Richardson Banks www.downtownmuse.com