Bob Hope Patriotic Hall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Bob Hope Patriotic Hall
The north side of Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, featuring its Spirit of '76 mural, as seen looking southbound on S. Figueroa Street.
General information
Architectural style	Romanesque architecture
Location	Los Angeles County
Address	1816 S. Figueroa Street Los Angeles, 90015
Country	United States of America
Coordinates	34°02′07″N 118°16′16″W / 34.0352°N 118.271°W / 34.0352; -118.271
Current tenants	home of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Named for	Bob Hope
Construction started	1925
Opened	1925
Renovated	2006
Owner	County of Los Angeles
Technical details
Floor count	10
Design and construction
Architecture firm	Allied Architects Association
Awards and prizes	Certificate of Honor, Southern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

The Bob Hope Patriotic Hall is a special 10-story building in Los Angeles. It was first opened in 1925 as Patriotic Hall. It was built to help veterans from different wars. These included the Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, and World War I. It also supported a group called the Grand Army of the Republic.

Today, the hall is the main office for the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. On November 12, 2004, the building was renamed "Bob Hope Patriotic Hall" to honor the famous entertainer Bob Hope. He was well-known for supporting military members.

History of Patriotic Hall

Patriotic Hall was built on land given by Civil War veterans. It opened its doors in 1926. For seven years, this 85,000 square foot building was the tallest in Los Angeles. It was as tall as a 12-story building.

Building Design and Art

The building was designed by the Allied Architects Association. This group included 33 important architects from Los Angeles. They used a style called Romanesque. This style often features rounded arches and strong, thick walls.

The lobby has cool vaulted arches. Its walls are covered with murals, which are large paintings. One special three-panel mural is called Soldiers and Sailors. It was created by A.J. Leitner. This mural shows U.S. military members in uniform from 1776 to 1941. It was part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program that helped artists find work during the Great Depression.

Other lobby murals by Helen Lundeberg were removed in the 1970s and are now missing. In 2013, artist Kent Twitchell created new murals called We the People, Out of Many, One. These murals honor Lundeberg's original design. They show real veterans and others connected to the military.

Awards and Recognition

Patriotic Hall has received special honors. The Southern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects gave it a Certificate of Honor. This award was for its excellent design. The building was also added to the State’s Register of Historical Resources on February 27, 1976. This means it is an important historical place.

Other Events at the Hall

The hall has hosted many events over the years. For example, in 2000, Arianna Huffington held a "Shadow convention" there. This happened at the same time as the 2000 Democratic National Convention nearby.

Modern Updates and Renovation

In 2006, Patriotic Hall closed for a big renovation project. The goal was to update the building. The updates included:

• New heating and cooling systems.
• Changes to make the building easier to use for people with disabilities (called ADA upgrades). This included new parking spots.
• Updated meeting rooms, conference areas, and offices.
• A refreshed gym.
• A large auditorium with 500 seats.
• A full kitchen.

The renovation finished in 2013 and cost $46 million. After the updates, many veteran groups were invited back. This included American Legion Post 8 and World War II Veterans Groups. The County's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs also moved back in August 2013.

Who Owns and Manages the Hall?

The County of Los Angeles owns Bob Hope Patriotic Hall. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs manages how the building is used every day.

What is its Purpose Today?

Today, the hall is a home for military artifacts and special items. It keeps documents from many wars, from the American Revolutionary War to recent conflicts in the Middle East.

Many veteran organizations have offices in the building. They offer important services to veterans. These services include:

• Free mental health support.
• Help with finding jobs.
• Assistance with getting benefits.
• Programs just for women veterans.
• Support from other veterans.

Patriotic Hall is a service center. This means veterans are welcome to visit anytime for help. At the rededication in 2013, Hugh Crooks Jr. from the American Legion said something important. He said the building is "not just for past veterans. It is also for future vets. All future vets will know that this building in Los Angeles County is their building. That’s what it’s here for. That’s what it will always be for.”

Where is the Hall Located?

The building is in Los Angeles, California. Its address is 1816 S. Figueroa Street, 90015. It is less than a mile from popular spots like Staples Center and LA Live. You can easily see it from major freeways like interstate 10 (Santa Monica Freeway) and State Route 110 (Harbor Freeway). Figueroa Street was once part of the old US Highway 6. It is also very close to the Metro A Line train station at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.

Special Collections Inside

Patriotic Hall stores many valuable artifacts. These items have been carefully recorded and organized. The collection is worth more than $1 million.

Some of the amazing items include:

• Uniforms worn by famous leaders like Winston Churchill, General George Patton, and General Norman Schwarzkopf.
• Old and important flags.
• Historic weapons.
• Original oil paintings by naval artist Arthur Beaumont.

Many of these items belong to American Legion Post 8. They are displayed in special cases for everyone to see.