Westwood

Can you hear the echoes of Hollywood’s golden age? Right here in Westwood, those echoes resonate louder than anywhere else. Westwood, a neighborhood nestled in Los Angeles’s Westside, is more than just the home of UCLA. It’s a place where history, culture, and architecture intertwine. Westwood whispers tales of Spanish explorers, Tongva villages, and the rise of Hollywood. In 1769, the Spanish Portolá expedition camped near the present-day UCLA campus, marking the beginning of Westwood’s modern history. Long before that, the Tongva people, the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles Basin, thrived in a village near Westwood called Kuruvungna. Their sacred springs, later renamed Serra Springs by the Spanish, nourished the community for centuries. Fast forward to 1919, and Arthur Letts, the department store magnate, purchased a vast ranch and envisioned two communities: Holmby Hills and Westwood. The arrival of UCLA in 1929 cemented Westwood’s destiny as a cultural hub. The university’s Romanesque Revival buildings, like Royce Hall and Powell Library, stand as testaments to a bygone era. But Westwood isn’t just about grand institutions. Hidden within its residential streets are architectural gems. From the Mediterranean Holmby House to the futuristic Sheats Apartments, designed by John Lautner, Westwood showcases a diverse range of styles. Beyond the stunning architecture, Westwood boasts a rich cultural scene. The Hammer Museum, housed in a former Occidental Petroleum Building, offers a world-class collection of contemporary art. The Geffen Playhouse, originally a Masonic Affiliates Club, stages captivating live performances. And for film buffs, Westwood Village’s historic cinemas, like the Fox Theatre and the Bruin Theatre, offer a glimpse into Hollywood’s past. But Westwood has also faced challenges. The 1988 shooting in Westwood Village cast a shadow over the neighborhood, and the subsequent Westwood Village Specific Plan, with its emphasis on parking over people, further hampered its vibrancy. Despite these setbacks, Westwood endures. It remains a place where you can stroll through the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, marvel at meteorites in the UCLA Meteorite Gallery, or stumble upon a hidden gem like the donation-only Spare Room Coffee Company. Westwood is a neighborhood of contrasts, a place where the echoes of the past mingle with the energy of the present. So, next time you’re in Los Angeles, take a walk through Westwood. Listen to its stories. And discover a neighborhood that’s more than just a suburb, it’s a piece of Los Angeles history.