Bob Hope Patriotic Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Bob Hope Patriotic Hall |
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The north side of Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, featuring its Spirit of '76 mural, as seen looking southbound on S. Figueroa Street.
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| 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 |
| Current tenants | home of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs |
| Named for | Bob Hope |
| Construction started | 1925 |
| Opened | 1926 |
| 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 10-story building in Los Angeles. It was first opened in 1926 to help military veterans. These included veterans from the Indian Wars, the Spanish–American War, and World War I. It also supported the Grand Army of the Republic, a group for Civil War veterans.
Today, the building is home to the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. It was renamed "Bob Hope Patriotic Hall" in 2004 to honor the famous entertainer Bob Hope, who was known for supporting the military.
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History of Patriotic Hall
Patriotic Hall was built on land given by Civil War veterans. Construction started in 1925, and the building opened in 1926. When it was first built, this 85,000-square-foot building was the tallest in Los Angeles for seven years. 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 architecture, which features rounded arches and strong, thick walls.
The main lobby has cool vaulted arches and murals on its walls. One area has a three-panel mural called Soldiers and Sailors by A.J. Leitner. This artwork shows U.S. military members from different time periods, from 1776 to 1941.
Other murals by Helen Lundeberg were once in the lobby but 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 new murals honor Lundeberg's original design. They show real veterans and people connected to the military.
Awards and Recognition
Patriotic Hall has received special awards for its design. The Southern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects gave it a Certificate of Honor. The building was also added to the State’s Register of Historical Resources in 1976. In 2025, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its importance to the country.
Building Upgrades
In 2006, Patriotic Hall closed for a big renovation project. The goal was to make the building more modern and useful. The upgrades included:
- New mechanical systems for heating and cooling.
- Improvements to meet ADA rules, like new parking spots.
- Updated spaces for meetings, conferences, and offices.
- A refurbished gym.
- A 500-seat auditorium for events.
- A full-service kitchen.
The renovation cost $46 million and was finished in 2013. After the upgrades, many veteran groups that used to be there were invited back. This included American Legion Post 8 and World War II Veterans Groups. The Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs also moved back into the building 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 operates every day.
What is its Purpose Today?
Today, Patriotic Hall is a special place that holds military artifacts and items. It has 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, such as:
- Free mental health support.
- Help with managing their cases.
- Assistance finding jobs.
- Help with benefits and services.
- Programs just for women veterans.
- Support from other veterans.
Patriotic Hall is a service center, which means veterans are welcome to visit without an appointment. At the rededication ceremony in 2013, Hugh Crooks Jr., an American Legion member, said that the building is for all veterans, past and future. He said, "All future vets will know that this building in Los Angeles County is their building."
Where is it Located?
The building is in Los Angeles, California, at 1816 S. Figueroa Street. It's less than a mile from big places like Staples Center and LA Live. You can easily see it from major highways like interstate 10 and State Route 110. Figueroa Street was once part of an old highway, US Highway 6. The building is also very close to the Metro A Line train station at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.
Special Collections
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 you can find there include:
- Uniforms worn by famous leaders like Winston Churchill, General George Patton, and General Norman Schwarzkopf.
- Historic flags.
- Historic weapons.
- Original oil paintings by naval artist Arthur Beaumont.
Much of this collection belongs to American Legion Post 8. These valuable artifacts are displayed in special cases for everyone to see.
