Highland Avenue (Los Angeles): Difference between revisions

Highland Avenue

North Highland Avenue, July 2023
Part of	Former SR 170 from Santa Monica Boulevard to US 101
Location	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nearest metro station	Hollywood/Highland
South end	La Brea Avenue
North end	US 101 (Hollywood Freeway) / Cahuenga Boulevard

Queen and Washingtonia Robusta Palm Trees and Median Strip
Location of Queen and Washingtonia Robusta Palm Trees and Median Strip in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location	Highland Ave between Wilshire Blvd and Melrose Ave
Coordinates	34°06′02″N 118°20′19″W / 34.100556°N 118.338611°W / 34.100556; -118.338611
Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument
Designated	1972[1]
Reference no.	94

Highland Avenue is a north–south road in Los Angeles. It is a major thoroughfare that runs from Cahuenga Boulevard and U.S. Route 101 in Hollywood at the north to Wilshire Boulevard in Mid-City Los Angeles at the south. South of Wilshire, Highland becomes is a residential street.

Highland contains four lanes for most of its length, but narrows to two from south of Wilshire to Washington Boulevard. Furthermore, Highland is broken up three times south of Wilshire, at Edgewood Place, San Vicente Boulevard, and Venice Boulevard. For through access, Highland traffic merges into Edgewood Place which accesses La Brea Avenue.

The segment of Highland from U.S. Route 101 to Santa Monica Boulevard was once designated as part of California State Route 170. California's legislature has since relinquished control of that segment, and the portion is now maintained by the City of Los Angeles.^[2]

The Hollywood Bowl is located at the northern end of Highland, just below U.S. Route 101. The Hollywood Heritage Museum, Highland-Camrose Bungalow Village, and American Legion Post 43 are also located on Highland in this area, as is Hollywood United Methodist Church, located slightly south at Highland and Franklin.

Further south is the famous intersection of Hollywood and Highland, the northwest corner of which was formerly home to the Hollywood Hotel and currently home to the Hollywood & Highland Center and Dolby Theatre. Hollywood First National, Lee Drug, and Bank of America Building are also located at this intersection, as is the B Line's Hollywood/Highland Metro station.^[3] The intersection itself is named Gene Autry Square, after the actor, musician, and businessman who was instrumental in developing the entertainment industry in this area.

Continuing south, half a block from Hollywood and Highland is the Hollywood Museum located in the historic Max Factor Salon, and across the street and half a block south from that is Hollywood High School, which continues south to the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Highland. Near the entrance to the school, the intersection of Highland and Selma is named Carol Burnett Square, after the famous actress and comedian who once went to school there.

Further south, Highland runs adjacent to the Wilshire Country Club near Beverly Boulevard in Hancock Park. Additionally, Highland's median parkway between Melrose Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard features queen palms and Mexican fan palms that were planted in 1928 and designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #94 in 1972.^[1]

The B Line stops at Hollywood and Highland.^[3] The K Line Northern Extension also plans to terminate on Highland, either at Hollywood and Highland or the Hollywood Bowl.^[4]

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation runs the Hollywood DASH line in a clockwise and counterclockwise loop around Hollywood. This line travels on Highland between Fountain Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard.^[5]