As the historic heart of Los Angeles, Downtown is a complex and confusing ecosystem, where the old town and the new city collide and the past is always present. Join Esotouric for an immersive time travel trip as you explore Victorian time capsule interiors, Prohibition-era speakeasy tunnels, early public spaces and the richly layered streetscape, all on a three hour tour like no other.
Starting from Grand Central Market, a culinary destination for more than a century, we’ll set out to explore prominent Broadway Theater District and Main Street landmarks, learn the lesser known history of the astonishing Bradbury Building, explore the sprawling basement of the Van Nuys / Barclay Hotel (Morgan, Walls and Morgan, 1896) with its original horse stables, bookie stand, sidewalk prisms and freight elevators and pay tribute to architect John Parkinson in his own King Edward Hotel, including the basement King Edward Saloon speakeasy tunnels. Also on this tour, we’ll make a rare interior visit to Arts & Crafts tile master Ernest Batchelder’s Dutch Chocolate Shop, a remarkable 1914 time capsule that’s been in the news with recent efforts by Altadena’s Save the Tiles volunteers to rescue his work from fire damaged properties.
This walking tour draws on original research to tell the real stories of Downtown Los Angeles and is illustrated with rare photos you can view on your smartphone.
MEETING INSTRUCTIONS:
Tour begins at 10:30am sharp, with check-in time 10am at the patio outside Grand Central Market in front of Maple Block BBQ at 324 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Please arrive on time and proceed to the check in table to get signed in and logged in to the smartphone slideshow. Scroll down for tour rules and recommendations.
Parking & Public Transit:
There are numerous paid public parking lots around Grand Central Market, including GCM’s multi-level lot at 308 South Hill Street Los Angeles, California 90013. The nearest Metro stations are Civic Center/Grand Park and Pershing Square. If using public transit, this link can help you plan your trip:
TOUR RULES & RECOMMENDATIONS:
BE PREPARED: This is a walking hour lasting 3 hours, over a mix of level ground and occasional hills and stairs moving at a casual pace. Wear comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat. Bring your smartphone so you can view the tour slide show. We will have a cooler with cold water, and you’re encouraged to bring a full water bottle. A restroom will be available at the start, the middle, and at the end of the tour. If you need more information about what to expect, please email us.
MASK POLICY: At this time, we no longer require that masks be worn on walking tours, with the exception of when we visit cramped and unventilated basement tunnels and the Dutch Chocolate Shop space. Please bring a mask to wear for this portion of the tour. If you forget your mask, we can provide one on check in.
CAMERA POLICY: No video- or audio-taping unless it has been pre-cleared with us, please. Still cameras and sketchbooks are fine.
CANCELLATION / REFUND POLICY:
If you’re sick, please do not attend the tour. Get some rest, and let us know not to expect you. If notified at least 72 hours before tour departure, we can refund or reschedule your booking. As long as you contact us before the tour begins, we are happy to move your reservation to a future tour date. You may also gift your ticket to someone else—we will need their name, email address and phone number to make this switch.
CONTACTING US ON OR BEFORE TOUR DAY:
Emailing is the best way to communicate with us, but after 8am on tour day you can call or text Richard on his mobile phone, 213-915-8687.