City Hall turns 80

LACityHall
Originally uploaded by CD-13

Wednesday marks the 80th year the current City Hall building has served Los Angeles, and in the spirit of the occasion, I’d like to share a few of the lesser known facts about the nucleus of our local government. Although the building may not seem like a Goliath today, when it was built in 1928 it was the only building allowed to exceed 150 feet, towering over downtown at 28 stories. The builders of City Hall (one of whom was Councilmember Jose Huizar’s grandfather) solidified its cornerstone with sand from every California county and water from every mission. Since then, City Hall has not only served as the seat of government, but has played an essential part in several films and television programs, perhaps its most famous being the office of the Daily Planet in the Superman television series. Next time you come by, take a closer look!