I've been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright's work for many years now, and when I caught wind of a FLW home - "Hollyhock House" in LA that could be visited, I had to drive up from SD and check it out. This was the sort of adventure that needed a sidekick, so of course, I brought my PIC, my mom. I bought tickets in advance from the website ($12/adult & $6 for seniors over 62) and we made an 11:30pm reservation for 7/30/2026. We arrived at the park a bit early, got one of the last upper parking lot parking spaces, and strolled around the grounds for a bit. Then about 15 minutes before our appointed time, we asked if we could enter prior to our time slot. We were granted early admission, put on our shoe covers, and entered through the 250# concrete doors into the unique & grand home of Oil Heiress and Patron of the Arts, Aline Barnsdell and her daughter, Betty. I am so glad that this house was saved and restored, and I look forward to coming back in a year or two to see what it looks like when the construction is (hopefully) finished. Hollyhock House, completed in 1921, is LA's only UNESCO World Heritage Site and what a beauty it is... from the gorgeous living room with a phenomenal view to the well-appointed dining room and the modern kitchen, every aspect of this house was so thoughtfully rendered. The terrace is stunning and the inner courtyard is so peaceful. My favorite room of all was the incredibly serene and cozy library where I could picture myself happily curled up in a comfy chair with a great book and my faithful pup by my side. I loved the combination of design styles in this house including Mayan, Aztec, Asian, Egyptian and "California Romanza" as described by FLW himself. We utilized the information booklet provided to enhance our self-guided tour, and we had a marvelous time. This home is not magnificent by some standards, but imho, it was everything someone could need, and so much more. The clever repetition of design elements such as the stylized Hollyhock and myriad built-ins helped streamline the house and ensure the continuous flow and cohesiveness of the home from room to room. The view from the top of Olive Hill is STUNNING, and I can only imagine how clear and pristine that view must have been 100+ years ago. The docents and volunteers here were all so nice and well-informed. We spoke to a lovely volunteer named Denise who shared some stories about the house, and clearly seemed to enjoy what she was doing. We loved the house so much that we had to take our time to really experience it. We stayed inside the house for about 45 minutes which was sufficient. I was sad to have to leave, but alas as we know, all good things must come to an end, but other good things are sure to follow! Mahalo! Additional notes: The house is at the top of the hill in Barnsdell Park. The signage for the park is subtle. There is a small visitors center next to the house, and the grounds at the top of the hill are available for anyone to visit, but you need a ticket to go inside the HH. The good news is that if you don't have ready access to the email with your ticket, the volunteer at the door can find your reservation on the iPad, so no worries there. There is no bathroom inside HH, but there is a port-a-potty in the park not too far away. read more

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Being from Arizona, I have been a longtime fan of Frank Lloyd Wright for years. We are fortunate to have many of his structures in our state. I love how his architecture blends in with the environment. I have been to Los Angeles many times in my life and was looking for something new to explore while in town. This was my first visit to the Hollyhock House. I have visited many of Frank Lloyd Wright's house museums and seen many of his structures over the years. But this place was a new one for me to see in person. Hollyhock House is located in Barnsdall Art Park and was completed in 1921. Hollyhock is a type of flower that inspired the motifs in this house's design. Aline Barnsdall hired Frank Lloyd Wright to design this house for her. Today it is owned by the Los Angeles Government. Hollyhock House is located on top of a hill and has a nice view of the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory. I enjoyed my tour through the Hollyhock House. It was affordable and took me about an hour to go through. They require you to wear protective shoe coverings while inside and ask that you don't use flash photography. The kitchen and living room were my favorite rooms. There is also a cool study with lots of books that I also enjoyed. There are a few rooms in this house that are off limits. The back outside patio area has a nice view of Los Angeles. The tour is self-guided, but there is staff on hand that will answer questions if you have some. Barnsdall Art Park is a nice park to relax and have a picnic. It has great views of the surrounding Los Angeles area if you want to hang around this area. read more

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Every building must have its own soul. Hollyhock House is a house museum designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the 20th-century famous architect. This is located in the hilltop of Barnsdall Park. This house was commissioned by oil heiress and theatre producer Aline Barnsdall. Built between 1919 and 1921. Hollyhock House is named for Barnsdall's favorite flower - the hollyhock. As you tour the house museum, you'll notice the representations of the hollyhock plant throughout the house, which include the ornamental art stone, textiles, furniture, and striking art glass. Interior layout is unquestionably unique and well conceived. For instance, the very low ceilings throughout the house except for the living room. Some sections of the house were off limits to visitors such as the main bedroom and lower levels. As you enter the house, you'll follow protocols such as wearing a disposable shoe cover protectors, no flash photography, and videos. Staff docents presence were ubiquitous and they're highly knowledgeable. Admission ticket cost $7 USD. Plenty of parking in the park. Overall, I liked the self-tour of this UNESCO landmark. I command that you visit. read more

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A beautiful museum! I thoroughly enjoyed the experience here and what made it better was the docent sharing all of the fun knowledge about the house. For the ticket being only $7, it was definitely worth it! I believe we spent about 1.25 hours. You should arrive 15 minutes before your reservation to find parking. The area has a beautiful view and grassy area to bring your lunch. read more

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Visited the Hollyhock House few months ago while a friend was in town and it's my new favorite LA landmark! Cool architecture and history in Aline Barnsdall, beautiful surrounding park and views, and beautiful ikebana! It's definitely an underrated gem of Los Angeles and I'll be going back again each time friends visit. read more

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Wonderful place to visit. Easy, self guided tour. The tickets do sell out for the times so just book in advance. Tickets are not expensive and they benefit the foundation. Great place to visit if you are interested at all in architecture or Frank Lloyd Wright! The location has a fantastic view of LA also. This place is really a gem. Nice lawn area surrounding the house where people were sitting on blankets or having a picnic. Very cute, unique place for a date! Parking: There is parking around the Hollyhock and at least the times we have gone, we didn't have an issue finding a spot. read more

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Done by Frank Lloyd Wright, it is an architectural structure that deserves an in-depth look. We'd been living here all this time and only found out about it through relatives who were visiting. It's a gorgeous ode to California and has so many traces of Japanese influence (Wright had other projects there supposedly and had to fly back and forth). The docents are friendly and accommodating. They're happy to answer all sorts of questions. We spent an entire afternoon here just taking it all in. So many little nooks and crannies to explore. It was such a calming visit. read more

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Fantastic Aztec style FLW house to tour and beautiful park like location with great views of LA. You can freely wander around on your own and photograph the house and grounds without restrictions. read more

$8 for a ticket? Totally worth it. Easy to make a reservation as long as you can wait a few weeks for your prime weekend slot. Super easy to park on the grounds. Be sure to bring a picnic with you as the small park offers a great view of the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory. The house itself is stunning. The use of wood is legendary and the staff offers educated commentary. Super fun afternoon. read more

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Hollyhock House is a great example of Frank Lloyd Wright design, interior detailing and architecture. Nestled into the Barnsdale Art Park, high on a hill view a view of LA, it is available for fans and tourists during a limited number of days (Thurs, Fri, Sat) and time slots, and walk ins will usually be turned away. We visited on a Friday afternoon and weren't sure what to expect; some friends said we would be in and out within 30 min, others said to plan a couple hours. For us it ended up in between - maybe 45-min to an hour. If we had really meticulously followed the book provided for the self-guided tour, or hired a docent, we would have been there longer. The main floor of the house is open for viewing - this includes the kitchen, dining room, reading room, main living room, several internal galleries, plus a view of the interior courtyard. You can get up close and personal with the furniture, glass designs, lighting/lamp work, carpeting, shelving, art, etc. You are asked to wear booties over your shoes to protect the floors and carpets, and not to touch anything. My hubby really enjoys all the thoughtful details FLW built into his spaces, and to see them up close was special. We were also lucky to be there during the time the hollyhock flowers were blooming all around the grounds - another thing that made our visit special! read more

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It's closed more than half the year and its unnecessarily expensive. The view at the top is worth the small climb to get there and the architecture is gorgeous, if you can get to see it. read more

At the top of Barnesdall Art Park Thursday through Saturday, 11 am-4 pm, for a mere 7 dollars you can take a self-guided tour through Hollyhock house: an architectural wonder Frank Lloyd Wright built in 1921. After donning protective booties to prevent damage to the floors you are allowed to explore this fascinating structure. Named for the Hollyhock flower, the stylized image of this plant is a repeating motif throughout the house. Anyone with a little interest in art history will recognize influences as diverse as Japanese, Maya and Ancient Egyptian. Similarly, those who are fans of Frank Lloyd Wright work, such as Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, will immediately see the architect's characteristic attempt to bring the outside world inside and extending the living space out-of-doors. Aline Barnsdall bought the 35-acres of land (which included a large olive orchard) that Barnsdall Park and the Hollyhock House sit upon. An extremely wealthy and progressive woman, Ms. Barnsdall knew what she wanted: an artist colony with studio spaces, performance spaces, houses, shops and apartments. Unfortunately what she didn't have was a huge amount of patience with Wright's limited schedule. Additionally, she was a globetrotter who was seldom in the same places for more than a a few weeks at a time, making communication between architect and patron challenging. Ms. Barnsdall never realized her goal. Instead of a full fledged artist colony we only have an incomplete set of buildings. It's a bit disappointing that this piece wasn't fully realized...yet these kind of patron/artist dynamics have often resulted in amazing pieces. Please see James Whistler's Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room in DC. Special shout out to the two senior docents who provided me and my friend with amazing details and stories of the history of this built environment. If there was any complaint I could think of about Hollyhock house it would be this: the junior docents seemed must less a) knowledgeable and b) passionate about the house. Despite the fact that this structure was intended to be only part of a much larger complex, this place is an architectural must-see. I'm almost unable to fully express how much I admire the work of FLW and Hollyhock House in particular. It is absolutely singular and well worth a visit or three. read more

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I enjoyed my visit to this beautiful house. Surprised to see so many docents helping out during my visit. Was a bit disappointed that parts of the home were not available to see (the bedrooms etc.) Too bad that ugly, noisy buildings were built close to the property. Wish there was more conserved open space there. However, I appreciate that the home has been conserved and kept up! read more

Built in 192, Hollyhock House is one of three Frank Lloyd Wright houses built around the LA area, the oldest, built in 1920, was destroyed but a model of it is on display here, and the lie of the land it was built upon. That's the thing about the architecture, long split-level homes with quirky designs from the early days of the Art Deco movement, and a nice sense of space inside leaning towards privacy in some areas, and an enormous living room dominated with an intricate fireplace. For sake of preservation, photos aren't allowed inside the house and permitted only outside in the area you'd exit after the tour. Another precaution is mandatory wearing of booties over the shoes to protect floors and carpets. Sensible. Each room has someone to answer questions about the building and while some areas are currently off-limits during restoration, it's probably someplace I'll revisit, preferably on a cooler day. Outside are sweeping views of the Hollywood sign and Griffith Park, the backside of the hospital district on Sunset, and two other buildings related to the arts and display. Once all construction is finished this would be an affordable quarter-day trip to blend in with other activities. Students and seniors have special pricing but it's quite affordable regardless. It was the first I've heard about or seen the house, and it reminded me of the alleged Wright homes built in my hometown, and the imitation of style that is Domino's Pizza headquarters with its two-mile façade a la Wright. Download the pdf online if you want images and details about the house. Parking is free but you must make reservations in advance online. read more

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Very small little museum! The docents are very knowledgeable and love to share so definitely ask questions . We spent about an hour in here and honestly I couldn't imagine needing much more time. The real hidden gem is the park right next to the house (which is free) - AMAZING view overlooking the city and great spot to watch sunset. read more

Hollyhock House - kitchen - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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PORTA POTTIES, really. No water fountain on a hot California day. No signage as to where the "potties" are! Walked around, aimlessly, asked, walked some more! Get some amenities - water and bathrooms! read more

I enjoy going seeing anything from Frank Lloyd Wright. I was finally able to visit the Hollyhock house. I was able to find parking near the entrance but if parking is not available there is also parking available at the entrance of the park. You check in and then you put on some covers for the shoes. You can get a physical book that has information about the house or scan a qr code. It is easy to read and follow along. There are several areas that are not available to see. Other than that there are docents available if you have any questions. It was great to see a FLW house in LA. Would definitely recommend this place. read more

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There were maybe four rooms that had furniture and could be viewed but the other rooms were either not furnished or not accessible. Most of the grounds were fenced off, so views and understanding of the house were limited. The entrance had been altered with a ramp and a canopy so you couldn't get a feel for what it would have been like to arrive at the home. I enjoyed the rooms that were furnished and the parts of the park where you could enjoy some time outside (brought a blanket and a book) and the docents were wonderful. I was just surprised how very little of the house was furnished and available to see. read more

One of the wonders of the Hollywood world, and you can take a no-time-limit self-guided tour for only $7. This house full of breathtaking features and furniture, and knowledgeable docents can fill you with fun facts if you choose to engage with them. We were told, for example, that the giant carpet that spans the living room area is all one piece, custom fitted to that space. Everything aligns so precisely, and the decor is an old school splendor that remains unparalleled. It's a stunning example of the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright, and it's an attraction not to be missed. read more

Any time I get the chance to tour a Frank Lloyd Wright home, I'm going to do it. Hollyhock House is located at Barnsdall Art Park (did anyone know this place even existed?) and is open for self-guided tours with an online reservation and small fee. Although the tours are self-guided they provide an extensive book filled with details and there are plenty of knowledgeable staff eager to answer questions or provide more information. You are not allowed to take photos inside the home, but outside is permitted. At this time the upper floor of the home is undergoing updates so we weren't able to see it, and the fountain in the back of the home was fenced off as well. Based on other reviews it sounds like this has been ongoing for quite some time. We spent about 30 minutes inside. I don't think it's Wright's most interesting or jaw-dropping work, but it has all the telltale signs of his style and is worth checking out just for the fact that it's local to LA. You can even just bring a picnic and sit on the grounds of the Barnsdall Art Park with sweeping views of LA, although the house is fenced off so you won't be able to approach it without a reservation. read more

This place is perfect for architecture lovers an Lloyd fans. I followed in love for this house. It is built in 1921 and still modern in many ways, really cozy! I was imaged me in the afternoon in the sofa, wine, friends and the fireplace working. Or, eating and reading on the garden in the middle of the house. All details are incredible and beautiful. So private and full of light and air. It is $7 the ticket for adult, $3 for seniors. You can buy on the website. Just photos. It is an international landmark of UNESCO. read more

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A VERY PLEASANT experience! The Hollyhock House isn't as hyped as Barnsdall suggests, however it's a cool little piece of history that people SHOULD visit! It's a $7 fee for entry and you put on some shoe covers to protect the flooring. Additionally, they have a "no recording, no touching" policy which is great because people are people... it's better to be safe. I loved the interior of the home, it's a cool fusion of Japanese, Art Deco, Semi-futuristic and 1950s? Yes! It's a mash-up, but it really comes together and has incredible views. The exterior is fine, but I feel there's a little too much going on design-wise outside that it's not as cool as the inside. The staff are really nice and knowledgeable. The place is kept in pristine condition and there's something awesome about stepping into a place where so much has happened yet not everyone knows the details or events that occurred at Holly Hock. read more

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A small but beautifully built Frank Lloyd Wright designed home in East Hollywood. Built in 1919 for an oil heiress it is still beautiful today even with very low ceilings and narrow walkways. In general it is not suited for a tall person like myself. The house itself has many parts that you cannot go into, including the master bedroom or downstairs, but what you can see is beautifully done, and one of the docents inside gave us a lot of background on the history of the house and the construction. It's easy to see the whole thing in about a half an hour, but for architecture fans, it would be easy to stay an hour or more. The views on Olive Hill, where the house was built, are really great and you can see the Hollywood sign, the Hills, and many other parts of Los Angeles. Barnsdall Park surrounds the house, so there are usually many people having picnics and just enjoying the views outside of the gates of the Hollyhock house. I would definitely recommend to any fan of architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright, or anyone who wants to explore some of the rich history of Los Angeles. read more

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Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House right in my backyard! I never knew as this is so hidden and hush, hush. It was extremely easy to book the self guided tour. Most economical tour I have ever booked. There were docents throughout the rooms and gave information that was not in the booklet. The details in every room is remarkable. As I meandered around the home, I noticed the low ceiling The exception is the living room. Out of all of the homes I've visited, this is the first to have a fireplace with a waterfront. This is an LA must! read more

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A nifty Frank Lloyd Wright house that's in disrepair and only partially available for touring. The greatest entertainment was the docents disagreeing on whether the woman who commissioned the house ever actually lived in it. The interior, as you might expect, is gorgeous, but FLW screwed the pooch with some of his most ostentatious design choices, particularly trying to run water all throughout the house, a system that apparently never worked and helped contribute to flooding when it rained. You can see some of the design influences, however, that saw more fruition later in the Unitarian Temple in Chicago and Falling Water outside Pittsburgh. Is it worth the visit? Yes, if you're a FLW fan, but the fun is limited, and the outside is also, with ugly fences obstructing the view. read more

really great to see in person. the tour is self guided but the docent was really informative and useful. great to take someone who loves Frank Lloyd Wright / architecture from out of town when they're in LA! read more

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It is like an oasis in the middle of Hollywood. Beautiful home and architecture. Great views of the Hollywood Hills, Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park Observatory. It's a self guided tour but the docents love to share the history. Worth a visit. read more

Margie, a docent at Hollyhock House, is California gold! She is knowledgeable and experienced. She made our visit to this Frank Lloyd Wright designed House and UNESCO site personal and insightful. She was able to share views of the non-public rooms through photographs on her iPad. All of the docents were helpful, but Margie is the star of the show. read more

The one and Only UNESCO World Heritage sight in Los Angeles. Had been on my list to see however, we never seemed to make it up the hill from Los Feliz brunch...so this weekend decided to start with the tour. Tours vary, we went for the self guided interior tour ticket. Purchased online or in person and timed entry. All tours start at the visitors center. Then you walk across to the house and place protective booties over your shoes. Good to know- even if you take the self guided tour, the docents inside are there to answer questions. Also the large laminated booklets are a tell all. No photos requested and the gift store is non existent save for a few postcards at the visitors center. It's beautiful and on a clear day from Barnsdall Park, views of LA abound. read more

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This is what an oil heiress' dream house looks like - uniquely gorgeous, commissioned from a famous visionary architect, artistically rich, metaphoric of her favorite flower, and too expensive to maintain. In fact, so expensive that even an oil heiress found it too much of a money pit, so much so that she eventually gave it to the city of LA. This is a rare landmark and a true treat for a Frank Lloyd Wright fan. It's located in Barnsdall Art park in Los Feliz. The architect's incredible talent and artistry is on display. Wright took Aline Barnsdall's (the heiress) favorite flower - the hollyhock - as his inspiration and created architectural versions of it from stone, wood, and glass that became the central elements of the house. The house is very illustrative of Wright's vision for the right style of architecture for California - the Mayan Revival. The Hollyhock House is yet another gem of the LA historic architecture. It's a true treat for its fans. read more

Hollyhock House - Hollyhock House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Barnsdall Art Park (Los Angeles, CA) - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

2nd floor was being renovated and off limits. Artist residence should also be completed in 2023. I see they raised priced to $10 for self guided tour 2023. Would be worth it if 2nd floor was included and to see the bedrooms. read more

Honestly, only go if you are in the area (which my boyfriend and I were). Otherwise, it is not worth the trip. First, the $7 price for adults is not a lot, but the price is not worth the experience you get (in my opinion). Only a portion of the house is available to view. They have booklets available that you can take with you as you explore the limited rooms available to see, but I think what they should also do is have signs with info available that give you the gist of the area you are seeing as the booklet is very wordy and I can't imagine everyone has the will to go over the whole thing. They also have a few docents stationed, but they tend to be occupied talking to someone else. They also make you put on shoe covers, which I understand because I work at a historic house museum. But I think they could also just put some rugs or carpeting down like Hearst Castle does. I do hope this place expands because it is a pretty neat place in a neat location. read more

I am giving this space three stars as I see as it as the type of place worthy of an actual tour vs self guided with docents in various locations. It makes for a short visit vs an extended and thorough experience. You will be given shoe covers to protect the floors and asked not to touch anything or take any inside photos. I so badly wanted a living room photo but I behaved. I took one of the books to help explain about the rooms but I ended up only reading about one room. I got a little bit of information from the docents but as a tour guide myself I know how much more information I could have had. Not all of the House is available to tour which can be a bit of a bummer. I did get to go upstairs to the master bedroom which most tours don't get to do so that was a nice surprise. While I did absolutely love the living room and do think this is a great gem it's just not done the way I think it could or should be for people to get the most out of their visit and then want to share about it with others. I went on a free night and would encourage you to do the same. read more

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Though the interior is closed for renovations and the exterior is being worked on as well, the Aline Barnsdall Hollyhock House is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as the first Modern American architectural structure recognized as such. We found the surrounding Barnsdall Park green space beautiful and the view spectacular! read more

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I've been on an architecture kick lately -- touring Pasadena's iconic Gamble House (aka the home of eccentric scientist Doc Brown from Back to the Future), driving all the way to Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Ariz., and flying to Pittsburgh to check out Wright's Falling Water. Yet, somehow I totally missed Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House, which is pretty much just 20 minutes from my place in Weho (and that's WITH traffic!). The Hollyhock House was Frank Lloyd Wright's first Los Angeles commission and an ode to good o'l California, perched high up on a hill in Barnsdall Art Park. On a clear day, you'll get a clear shot of the famed Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory. The home was built between 1919 and 1921 for Aline Barnsdall, an eccentric oil heiress who asked Wright to incorporate her favorite flower (the Hollyhock) into the home's design. It sounds easy enough. But let's just say, the relationship between the two wasn't exactly diplomatic. In fact, they clashed instantly! Docents are on hand to give you insight (aka the juicy gossip!). I did the self-guided tour and LOVED hearing all the stories -- including how Barnsdall worried about the budget (the house reportedly wound up costing $150,000--three times the original budget). And how Wright demanded near-total creative control. The tour is worth it alone just to see the crazy living room with a fireplace -- surrounded by a moat! Now why didn't we think of this design feature for my condo? ADMISSION: $7 per person (for either self-guided or docent-led tours) BONUS: Check out their full schedule online, for summer wine tastings in the park. It looks like a fun summertime activity. read more

This review is not about the tour you might get from buying the tickets on site for a nominal fee. I understand the experience can be very frustrating due to limited time allowed inside the house and the ugly fences that may still be there to keep people out. Photography I understand is usually not allowed inside. I went on the special tour arranged by a docent through the American Institute of Architects. We were allowed to take pictures while we were inside and shown rooms that were upstairs which was usually not accessible to the general public but hopefully in time it will be. The details of design on the this house and on most FLLW buildings were incredible. Every corner of every inch was fully thought out, designed and detailed to perfection. FLLW had a crew of very talented designers and drafters at Taliesin who made this possible under the orchestration of the master. Rudolf Schindler, a master architect in his own right was involved in the construction of this house. The architectural details flow and end harmoniously throughout the house in this Mayan inspired complex and this is evident when you have a chance to see this house in person. Photos cannot do justice to the building. Photography does not yet represent the 180 degree view of what our eyes perceive. The photographs I took are just rectangular 27 degree view of the spaces; it has no peripheral vision, which exist in a real life experience. It is the richness and the depth of the designs of FLLW that make him so popular to the general public. Even if you cannot fully comprehend the vocabulary of the design one can appreciate the innate beauty of the spaces just as you would of nature. read more

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I'm a huge architecture and museum fan. I'm also, a huge Frank Loyd Wright fan. Visited today with the family and was certainly nice to finally see a staple of LA history. We opted for the guided tour, although it was a tad on the short side and didn't enter the home. It was nice to get the history of the home however. Entering the home, you are required to put on protective footwear / shoe covers to protect the carpets. I'm glad they do this as this is a 100 year old historic art piece. The property has certainly undergone extensive renovation. The sections of the home accessible to the public are several rooms on the primary level. Unfortunately a good portion of the home is behind ropes not accessible. It was sensational to get to see such an amazing piece of architecture. I definitely recommend visiting, just be prepared for limited parking. (There is handicap parking next to visitor center, slightly hidden). Overall a nice (albeit quick) experience read more

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Once you buy your tickets at the LA Municipal Art Gallery that is just a 60-second walk away from Hollyhock House, wait for the tour guide to open Hollyhock's concrete entrance doors. Yes, it's all a bit Oz-like. A tour of Hollyhock House starts on time, so don't be late and buckle yourself in for a fast 60-minute whirlwind tour that starts off like a tightly-wound coil-springed toy car and only slows down as the tour ends and you're walking out the door. You'll bounce around from room to room and won't have time for questions here because facts and anecdotes will be shot at you like pellets from a gun. Hollyhock was built between 1919 and 1921 for Aline Barnsdall -- a woman who seems to have known everyone -- and the house was Frank Lloyd Wright's first LA project. It's nouveau-Aztec Mexico on the outside with familiar Wright flourishes on the inside. You're going to get whiplash here as the tour guide points out things left and right. Although Aline Barnsdall lived in the house for only five years and donated the premises -- with stunning views of everything LA, by the way -- to form an arts park, this house has had more design changes and renovations than a house on a movie studio set. Although the living room interior has been renovated with furniture installed to give you a good sense of the place, the rest of the house is pretty worn, empty and confused inside. It looks like the preservationists have no clue where to begin because there were more renovations over the years than actual architectural drawings. All of a sudden your frenzied 60-minute tour ends and you're shuttled out the door quickly wondering what to make of it all. It seems like a reflection of Aline Barnsdall's short time at Hollyhock. read more

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Hollyhock (1921) - drove by the Hollywood Bowl to get here. Open to public but not on the day we went. "The house and grounds were used as the temple of the Piranha Women in 1989's Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death... Overlooking Hollywood Boulevard to the east and presenting panoramic views west towards the Pacific Ocean, the 36-acre hilltop estate south of Griffith Park was originally slated to include multiple structures dedicated to the arts. An eventual rift between Barnsdall and architect Frank Lloyd Wright meant that only three buildings would be completed: Hollyhock House, named after Miss Barnsdall's favorite flower, and two other structures referred to as "Residences A and B." As the members of the first generation of California Plein-Air Painters aged and died, the membership was filled by younger professional painters... other notable members include Sir Winston Churchill..." (see pics) read more

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I have been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright. When I had a neighbor who studied at the Wright School in Taliesin and Taliesin West, the idea of touring one of Wright's houses was too much to resist. Since I no longer live closer to Fallingwater than his homes in the West, I planned on one of my trips to Los Angeles to take a tour of the Hollyhock House as this is the only Wright house open for tours. No photographs are allowed on the tour so if you want to see the interior, you have to visit a website that shows them such as the Friends of Hollyhock House art http://hollyhockhouse.net According to their website, tours have been discontinued until restoration work is complete. I'd watch the website for a tour in the future. It is so worth it to take the docent led tour. One wouldn't notice that Wright made the entry ceiling low so that when you got inside the door, the ceilings would appear higher and the house have a more open and grand look. These are the things you learn on the tour. You also will be shown the hidden keyhole in the front door. Before or after your tour, spend some time in Barnsdall Art Park where the house is located along Hollywood Boulevard. Enjoy the views of the basin including the iconic Hollywood sign on Mt. Lee. read more

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