Bob Hope Patriotic Hall
| The Bob Hope Patriotic Hall | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Location | Los Angeles |
| Address | 1816 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, 90015 |
| Country | Los Angeles County |
| 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 | Honored for exceptional merit by the Southern California Chapter of the American Society of Architects. |
 | This article needs to be updated. (October 2013) |
Bob Hope Patriotic Hall is a 10-story building that was dedicated as Patriotic Hall by the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors in 1925 and was built to serve veterans of Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, World War I and to support the Grand Army of the Republic. It serves as the home of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Patriotic hall was rededicated to honor of Bob Hope and renamed "Bob Hope Patriotic Hall" on November 12, 2004.[1] Ruth A. Wong became the Director of Military and Veterans Affairs on July 16, 2013.
History
Patriotic Hall was built in 1925 and the building opened its doors in 1926 to serve the public. When it was built, the 85,000-square-foot (7,900 m2) building was the tallest building[2] in the city.
Design
The building was designed by Allied Architects Association (33 prominent architects in Los Angeles) using Romanesque features. The lobby was designed with vaulted arch construction and contains murals on the walls.[3][4]
Awards
A certificate of Honor has been awarded for its exceptional merit by the Southern California Chapter of the American Society of Architects. The building was built on land deeded by Civil War veterans.[2]
Other notable events
Arianna Huffington hosted a Shadow convention in Patriotic Hall while the Democratic National Convention took place in Staples Center[5]
Refurbishment
In 2006, the building was temporarily closed so that it could be renovated. The renovations included:
- Updated mechanical systems
- ADA upgrades, including new parking stalls
- Updated meeting, conference and office spaces
- Refurbished gym
- 500-seat auditorium
- Full-service kitchen
The renovated Patriotic Hall was completed in 2013 at a cost of $46,000,000 US Dollars.[6] The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs moved back in on August 26, 2013.
Ownership and management
Bob Hope Patriotic Hall is owned by the County of Los Angeles. Operations are managed by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Current purpose
The hall is the home to military artifacts and memorabilia. It also houses documents from wars and conflicts starting with the American Revolutionary War, and including recent Middle East conflicts.
Mission statement: to provide counseling and assistance to, and act as an advocate for veterans, their dependents and survivors regarding entitlement to benefits under Federal, State and Local laws and regulations.
Operate Bob Hope Patriotic Hall as a veteran's memorial building for the veteran's community, patriotic and civic events and the general public
Location
The building is less than a mile from Staples Center and LA Live. It is visible from both interstate 10 (Santa Monica Freeway) and State Route 110 (Harbor Freeway). The structure is located at 1816 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California, 90015. Figueroa Street was a part of the old US Highway 6.
Future
In more active years, Patriotic Hall was the headquarters and/or a mailing address for hundreds of organizations. Once renovation was completed, the original veteran service organizations were invited back into the building, this includes:[2]
- American Legion Post 8
- World War II Veterans Groups
- County offices such as the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Collections
There are many artifacts stored in the hall. They have been documented and cataloged. The estimated worth of the collection is valued at more than $1,000,000. Included are:
- Uniforms from Winston Churchill, General George Patton, General Norman Schwarzkopf.
- Historic flags
- Historic weapons
- Original oil paintings by naval artist Arthor Beaumont.
Much of the collection is property of American Legion Post 8. Display cases hold these valuable artifacts.
References
- ^ "Department of Military & Veteran Affairs". Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Patriotic Hall Gets Preservation Money". Los Angeles Downtown News.com. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ "Active Projects/Missing Art: Bob Hope Patriotic Hall". Civic Art. LA County Arts Commission. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ "Active Projects/Bob Hope Patriotic Hall". Civic Art. LA County Arts Commission. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ^ List of Democratic National Conventions
- ^ "Bob Hope Patriotic Hall Refurbishment". PCL Constructors Inc. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
External links
34°02′07″N 118°16′16″W / 34.0352°N 118.271°W
