The Hollywood Sign
Do I even need to tell you where I am? Hollywood, baby! That’s right, I’m standing right in front of the legendary 45 ft white sign in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles.
Fun Facts about the Hollywood Sign
Did you know that the original sign read Hollywoodland? And that it was an advertising sign for a local housing development project? Today, it is so much more! It is a symbol of success, ambition and glamour, in the dream called Hollywood! The sign has been featured in scores of movies and TV shows alike, and has also been the target of a number of parodies! This is one of the most glamorous places in the world!
So popular is this area, that there are multiple activities that all centre around the idea of getting here. You can hike or shuttle here.
There’s even a live webcam service to see the sign and areas around it. Talk about hype! There are multiple hiking trails you can take to get here, ranging from easy to difficult, and each offering a close view of THE SIGN.
The sign, which is so popular, has been a target for several acts of vandalism, and also a suicide point for a depressed starlet. These incidents have now made the sign off-limits to humans. This doesn’t mean you can’t see the sign though. As long as you maintain the perimeter, you can still see the sign in all its glory. However, the endless tourist activity is bothersome for the locals, and together with the Hollywood Sign Trust, they convinced mapping services to stop providing directions to the location of the sign, instead directing visitors to two viewing platforms, Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood and Highland Center.
So much hype over a giant white sign, and all totally understandable. It’s not just a sign, it’s a statement!