Hollyhock House

Hollyhock House is a true hidden gem in Los Angeles. I got my tickets online (no wait), but you can also buy them at the door. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, with very friendly staff who make the experience even better. The house itself is beautiful, full of unique details and charm — definitely worth a visit if you enjoy architecture, history, or just discovering something special in the city. Photos are allowed inside, videos are not. Park’s parking is free

Im always looking for different things to do in Los Angeles other than the usual. This house was a lovely little gem. I did say its best to book a ticket in advance but we just turned up when the Internet said the tickets were sold out. We got lucky and bought a ticket on the door. All the staff volunteering here were very knowledgeable and approachable. The design of the house is amazing. We were able to park right outside. There is an art museum right next door and a grass area outside that people were having picnics on which was lovely to see.

Beautiful setting in Los Angeles with a great view of the Hollywood hills. The house is over 100 years old and is a great example of many Frank Lloyd Wright designs. This one was really big and had an amazing outdoor space. It’s a self guided tour, but there were some really knowledgeable people working there that made the experience even better. Would definitely buy tickets in advance and they are very affordable. Parking was also free and not an issue for the house.

I was really excited to visit Hollyhock House, and don’t get me wrong, the architecture is stunning and totally unique. But honestly, it was a bit of a letdown. Only a few rooms are open to the public, so you don’t get the full picture, and there’s not much info inside. You have to lug around this spiral guide yourself, which is kind of awkward and takes you out of the experience. It would be amazing to see more photos and footage from when the house was being built that would really bring Aline Barnsdall’s vision and Wright’s genius to life. For $13, I expected a little more context and accessibility. Still, if you love architecture, it’s worth seein... just don’t expect a fully immersive experience.

One of Hollywood’s gems and not many take advantage of this historic property. An architectural enthusiasts must see. Located atop a hill and a lovely event venue too. You can do a guided tour of the home but also picnic in the common park or garden area outside. There are many fundraising and other public events held here like live music evenings and summer parties. Plus you can walk over to a bunch of restaurants and shops down the street so a great location too. Plenty of parking at the park!

Self guided tour was easy. Made the reservation online came on time and was let in immediately. Every elevation of the home was so beautifully detailed. Situated in a nice park overlooking the Hollywood sign and Griffith makes for a great picnic spot. Lots of people painting as well.

Hollyhock house is a gorgeous little mid-century modern marvel located on a beautiful hill in East Hollywood. Or Los Feliz? I’m not entirely sure… But either way it’s stunning and absolutely worth a visit. I would recommend getting a ticket in advance, but you will definitely be able to find parking when you get here so all around it’s relatively easy to navigate. The space is absolutely gorgeous both the outdoor grounds and the inside which is fully mid-century modern and just eye candy for those that love that style of architecture. Highly recommend a visit here, especially if you live here because I haven’t heard a lot of folks that come and I think it would be a nice thing to do as a local with a group of friends or partner or whatever… I will definitely come back here again!

Awesome Frank Lloyd Wright house! Beautiful park surrounding the house with sweeping view of LA. Self guided tour is only $12 -- do it!

Being from Arizona, I have been a longtime fan of Frank Lloyd Wright for years. We are fortunate to have many of his structures in our state. I love how his architecture blends in with the environment. I have been to Los Angeles many times in my life and was looking for something new to explore while in town. This was my first visit to the Hollyhock House. I have visited many of Frank Lloyd Wright's house museums and seen many of his structures over the years. But this place was a new one for me to see in person. Hollyhock House is located in Barnsdall Art Park and was completed in 1921. Hollyhock is a type of flower that inspired the motifs in this house's design. Aline Barnsdall hired Frank Lloyd Wright to design this house for her. Today it is owned by the Los Angeles Government. Hollyhock House is located on top of a hill and has a nice view of the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory. I enjoyed my tour through the Hollyhock House. It was affordable and took me about an hour to go through. They require you to wear protective shoe coverings while inside and ask that you don't use flash photography. The kitchen and living room were my favorite rooms. There is also a cool study with lots of books that I also enjoyed. There are a few rooms in this house that are off limits. The back outside patio area has a nice view of Los Angeles. The tour is self-guided, but there is staff on hand that will answer questions if you have some. Barnsdall Art Park is a nice park to relax and have a picnic. It has great views of the surrounding Los Angeles area if you want to hang around this area.

Every building must have its own soul. Hollyhock House is a house museum designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the 20th-century famous architect. This is located in the hilltop of Barnsdall Park. This house was commissioned by oil heiress and theatre producer Aline Barnsdall. Built between 1919 and 1921. Hollyhock House is named for Barnsdall's favorite flower - the hollyhock. As you tour the house museum, you'll notice the representations of the hollyhock plant throughout the house, which include the ornamental art stone, textiles, furniture, and striking art glass. Interior layout is unquestionably unique and well conceived. For instance, the very low ceilings throughout the house except for the living room. Some sections of the house were off limits to visitors such as the main bedroom and lower levels. As you enter the house, you'll follow protocols such as wearing a disposable shoe cover protectors, no flash photography, and videos. Staff docents presence were ubiquitous and they're highly knowledgeable. Admission ticket cost $7 USD. Plenty of parking in the park. Overall, I liked the self-tour of this UNESCO landmark. I command that you visit.

A beautiful museum! I thoroughly enjoyed the experience here and what made it better was the docent sharing all of the fun knowledge about the house. For the ticket being only $7, it was definitely worth it! I believe we spent about 1.25 hours. You should arrive 15 minutes before your reservation to find parking. The area has a beautiful view and grassy area to bring your lunch.

Visited the Hollyhock House few months ago while a friend was in town and it's my new favorite LA landmark! Cool architecture and history in Aline Barnsdall, beautiful surrounding park and views, and beautiful ikebana! It's definitely an underrated gem of Los Angeles and I'll be going back again each time friends visit.

Wonderful place to visit. Easy, self guided tour. The tickets do sell out for the times so just book in advance. Tickets are not expensive and they benefit the foundation. Great place to visit if you are interested at all in architecture or Frank Lloyd Wright! The location has a fantastic view of LA also. This place is really a gem. Nice lawn area surrounding the house where people were sitting on blankets or having a picnic. Very cute, unique place for a date! Parking: There is parking around the Hollyhock and at least the times we have gone, we didn't have an issue finding a spot.

Very small little museum! The docents are very knowledgeable and love to share so definitely ask questions . We spent about an hour in here and honestly I couldn't imagine needing much more time. The real hidden gem is the park right next to the house (which is free) - AMAZING view overlooking the city and great spot to watch sunset.

Done by Frank Lloyd Wright, it is an architectural structure that deserves an in-depth look. We'd been living here all this time and only found out about it through relatives who were visiting. It's a gorgeous ode to California and has so many traces of Japanese influence (Wright had other projects there supposedly and had to fly back and forth). The docents are friendly and accommodating. They're happy to answer all sorts of questions. We spent an entire afternoon here just taking it all in. So many little nooks and crannies to explore. It was such a calming visit.

PORTA POTTIES, really. No water fountain on a hot California day. No signage as to where the "potties" are! Walked around, aimlessly, asked, walked some more! Get some amenities - water and bathrooms!

At the top of Barnesdall Art Park Thursday through Saturday, 11 am-4 pm, for a mere 7 dollars you can take a self-guided tour through Hollyhock house: an architectural wonder Frank Lloyd Wright built in 1921. After donning protective booties to prevent damage to the floors you are allowed to explore this fascinating structure. Named for the Hollyhock flower, the stylized image of this plant is a repeating motif throughout the house. Anyone with a little interest in art history will recognize influences as diverse as Japanese, Maya and Ancient Egyptian. Similarly, those who are fans of Frank Lloyd Wright work, such as Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, will immediately see the architect's characteristic attempt to bring the outside world inside and extending the living space out-of-doors. Aline Barnsdall bought the 35-acres of land (which included a large olive orchard) that Barnsdall Park and the Hollyhock House sit upon. An extremely wealthy and progressive woman, Ms. Barnsdall knew what she wanted: an artist colony with studio spaces, performance spaces, houses, shops and apartments. Unfortunately what she didn't have was a huge amount of patience with Wright's limited schedule. Additionally, she was a globetrotter who was seldom in the same places for more than a a few weeks at a time, making communication between architect and patron challenging. Ms. Barnsdall never realized her goal. Instead of a full fledged artist colony we only have an incomplete set of buildings. It's a bit disappointing that this piece wasn't fully realized...yet these kind of patron/artist dynamics have often resulted in amazing pieces. Please see James Whistler's Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room in DC. Special shout out to the two senior docents who provided me and my friend with amazing details and stories of the history of this built environment. If there was any complaint I could think of about Hollyhock house it would be this: the junior docents seemed must less a) knowledgeable and b) passionate about the house. Despite the fact that this structure was intended to be only part of a much larger complex, this place is an architectural must-see. I'm almost unable to fully express how much I admire the work of FLW and Hollyhock House in particular. It is absolutely singular and well worth a visit or three.

I enjoyed my visit to this beautiful house. Surprised to see so many docents helping out during my visit. Was a bit disappointed that parts of the home were not available to see (the bedrooms etc.) Too bad that ugly, noisy buildings were built close to the property. Wish there was more conserved open space there. However, I appreciate that the home has been conserved and kept up!

There were maybe four rooms that had furniture and could be viewed but the other rooms were either not furnished or not accessible. Most of the grounds were fenced off, so views and understanding of the house were limited. The entrance had been altered with a ramp and a canopy so you couldn't get a feel for what it would have been like to arrive at the home. I enjoyed the rooms that were furnished and the parts of the park where you could enjoy some time outside (brought a blanket and a book) and the docents were wonderful. I was just surprised how very little of the house was furnished and available to see.

$8 for a ticket? Totally worth it. Easy to make a reservation as long as you can wait a few weeks for your prime weekend slot. Super easy to park on the grounds. Be sure to bring a picnic with you as the small park offers a great view of the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory. The house itself is stunning. The use of wood is legendary and the staff offers educated commentary. Super fun afternoon.

Hollyhock House is a great example of Frank Lloyd Wright design, interior detailing and architecture. Nestled into the Barnsdale Art Park, high on a hill view a view of LA, it is available for fans and tourists during a limited number of days (Thurs, Fri, Sat) and time slots, and walk ins will usually be turned away. We visited on a Friday afternoon and weren't sure what to expect; some friends said we would be in and out within 30 min, others said to plan a couple hours. For us it ended up in between - maybe 45-min to an hour. If we had really meticulously followed the book provided for the self-guided tour, or hired a docent, we would have been there longer. The main floor of the house is open for viewing - this includes the kitchen, dining room, reading room, main living room, several internal galleries, plus a view of the interior courtyard. You can get up close and personal with the furniture, glass designs, lighting/lamp work, carpeting, shelving, art, etc. You are asked to wear booties over your shoes to protect the floors and carpets, and not to touch anything. My hubby really enjoys all the thoughtful details FLW built into his spaces, and to see them up close was special. We were also lucky to be there during the time the hollyhock flowers were blooming all around the grounds - another thing that made our visit special!

One of the wonders of the Hollywood world, and you can take a no-time-limit self-guided tour for only $7. This house full of breathtaking features and furniture, and knowledgeable docents can fill you with fun facts if you choose to engage with them. We were told, for example, that the giant carpet that spans the living room area is all one piece, custom fitted to that space. Everything aligns so precisely, and the decor is an old school splendor that remains unparalleled. It's a stunning example of the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright, and it's an attraction not to be missed.

I enjoy going seeing anything from Frank Lloyd Wright. I was finally able to visit the Hollyhock house. I was able to find parking near the entrance but if parking is not available there is also parking available at the entrance of the park. You check in and then you put on some covers for the shoes. You can get a physical book that has information about the house or scan a qr code. It is easy to read and follow along. There are several areas that are not available to see. Other than that there are docents available if you have any questions. It was great to see a FLW house in LA. Would definitely recommend this place.

Built in 192, Hollyhock House is one of three Frank Lloyd Wright houses built around the LA area, the oldest, built in 1920, was destroyed but a model of it is on display here, and the lie of the land it was built upon. That's the thing about the architecture, long split-level homes with quirky designs from the early days of the Art Deco movement, and a nice sense of space inside leaning towards privacy in some areas, and an enormous living room dominated with an intricate fireplace. For sake of preservation, photos aren't allowed inside the house and permitted only outside in the area you'd exit after the tour. Another precaution is mandatory wearing of booties over the shoes to protect floors and carpets. Sensible. Each room has someone to answer questions about the building and while some areas are currently off-limits during restoration, it's probably someplace I'll revisit, preferably on a cooler day. Outside are sweeping views of the Hollywood sign and Griffith Park, the backside of the hospital district on Sunset, and two other buildings related to the arts and display. Once all construction is finished this would be an affordable quarter-day trip to blend in with other activities. Students and seniors have special pricing but it's quite affordable regardless. It was the first I've heard about or seen the house, and it reminded me of the alleged Wright homes built in my hometown, and the imitation of style that is Domino's Pizza headquarters with its two-mile façade a la Wright. Download the pdf online if you want images and details about the house. Parking is free but you must make reservations in advance online.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House right in my backyard! I never knew as this is so hidden and hush, hush. It was extremely easy to book the self guided tour. Most economical tour I have ever booked. There were docents throughout the rooms and gave information that was not in the booklet. The details in every room is remarkable. As I meandered around the home, I noticed the low ceiling The exception is the living room. Out of all of the homes I've visited, this is the first to have a fireplace with a waterfront. This is an LA must!

A VERY PLEASANT experience! The Hollyhock House isn't as hyped as Barnsdall suggests, however it's a cool little piece of history that people SHOULD visit! It's a $7 fee for entry and you put on some shoe covers to protect the flooring. Additionally, they have a "no recording, no touching" policy which is great because people are people... it's better to be safe. I loved the interior of the home, it's a cool fusion of Japanese, Art Deco, Semi-futuristic and 1950s? Yes! It's a mash-up, but it really comes together and has incredible views. The exterior is fine, but I feel there's a little too much going on design-wise outside that it's not as cool as the inside. The staff are really nice and knowledgeable. The place is kept in pristine condition and there's something awesome about stepping into a place where so much has happened yet not everyone knows the details or events that occurred at Holly Hock.

Any time I get the chance to tour a Frank Lloyd Wright home, I'm going to do it. Hollyhock House is located at Barnsdall Art Park (did anyone know this place even existed?) and is open for self-guided tours with an online reservation and small fee. Although the tours are self-guided they provide an extensive book filled with details and there are plenty of knowledgeable staff eager to answer questions or provide more information. You are not allowed to take photos inside the home, but outside is permitted. At this time the upper floor of the home is undergoing updates so we weren't able to see it, and the fountain in the back of the home was fenced off as well. Based on other reviews it sounds like this has been ongoing for quite some time. We spent about 30 minutes inside. I don't think it's Wright's most interesting or jaw-dropping work, but it has all the telltale signs of his style and is worth checking out just for the fact that it's local to LA. You can even just bring a picnic and sit on the grounds of the Barnsdall Art Park with sweeping views of LA, although the house is fenced off so you won't be able to approach it without a reservation.

This place is perfect for architecture lovers an Lloyd fans. I followed in love for this house. It is built in 1921 and still modern in many ways, really cozy! I was imaged me in the afternoon in the sofa, wine, friends and the fireplace working. Or, eating and reading on the garden in the middle of the house. All details are incredible and beautiful. So private and full of light and air. It is $7 the ticket for adult, $3 for seniors. You can buy on the website. Just photos. It is an international landmark of UNESCO.

really great to see in person. the tour is self guided but the docent was really informative and useful. great to take someone who loves Frank Lloyd Wright / architecture from out of town when they're in LA!

It is like an oasis in the middle of Hollywood. Beautiful home and architecture. Great views of the Hollywood Hills, Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park Observatory. It's a self guided tour but the docents love to share the history. Worth a visit.

A small but beautifully built Frank Lloyd Wright designed home in East Hollywood. Built in 1919 for an oil heiress it is still beautiful today even with very low ceilings and narrow walkways. In general it is not suited for a tall person like myself. The house itself has many parts that you cannot go into, including the master bedroom or downstairs, but what you can see is beautifully done, and one of the docents inside gave us a lot of background on the history of the house and the construction. It's easy to see the whole thing in about a half an hour, but for architecture fans, it would be easy to stay an hour or more. The views on Olive Hill, where the house was built, are really great and you can see the Hollywood sign, the Hills, and many other parts of Los Angeles. Barnsdall Park surrounds the house, so there are usually many people having picnics and just enjoying the views outside of the gates of the Hollyhock house. I would definitely recommend to any fan of architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright, or anyone who wants to explore some of the rich history of Los Angeles.

Margie, a docent at Hollyhock House, is California gold! She is knowledgeable and experienced. She made our visit to this Frank Lloyd Wright designed House and UNESCO site personal and insightful. She was able to share views of the non-public rooms through photographs on her iPad. All of the docents were helpful, but Margie is the star of the show.

A nifty Frank Lloyd Wright house that's in disrepair and only partially available for touring. The greatest entertainment was the docents disagreeing on whether the woman who commissioned the house ever actually lived in it. The interior, as you might expect, is gorgeous, but FLW screwed the pooch with some of his most ostentatious design choices, particularly trying to run water all throughout the house, a system that apparently never worked and helped contribute to flooding when it rained. You can see some of the design influences, however, that saw more fruition later in the Unitarian Temple in Chicago and Falling Water outside Pittsburgh. Is it worth the visit? Yes, if you're a FLW fan, but the fun is limited, and the outside is also, with ugly fences obstructing the view.

I am giving this space three stars as I see as it as the type of place worthy of an actual tour vs self guided with docents in various locations. It makes for a short visit vs an extended and thorough experience. You will be given shoe covers to protect the floors and asked not to touch anything or take any inside photos. I so badly wanted a living room photo but I behaved. I took one of the books to help explain about the rooms but I ended up only reading about one room. I got a little bit of information from the docents but as a tour guide myself I know how much more information I could have had. Not all of the House is available to tour which can be a bit of a bummer. I did get to go upstairs to the master bedroom which most tours don't get to do so that was a nice surprise. While I did absolutely love the living room and do think this is a great gem it's just not done the way I think it could or should be for people to get the most out of their visit and then want to share about it with others. I went on a free night and would encourage you to do the same.

2nd floor was being renovated and off limits. Artist residence should also be completed in 2023. I see they raised priced to $10 for self guided tour 2023. Would be worth it if 2nd floor was included and to see the bedrooms.

The one and Only UNESCO World Heritage sight in Los Angeles. Had been on my list to see however, we never seemed to make it up the hill from Los Feliz brunch...so this weekend decided to start with the tour. Tours vary, we went for the self guided interior tour ticket. Purchased online or in person and timed entry. All tours start at the visitors center. Then you walk across to the house and place protective booties over your shoes. Good to know- even if you take the self guided tour, the docents inside are there to answer questions. Also the large laminated booklets are a tell all. No photos requested and the gift store is non existent save for a few postcards at the visitors center. It's beautiful and on a clear day from Barnsdall Park, views of LA abound.

This is what an oil heiress' dream house looks like - uniquely gorgeous, commissioned from a famous visionary architect, artistically rich, metaphoric of her favorite flower, and too expensive to maintain. In fact, so expensive that even an oil heiress found it too much of a money pit, so much so that she eventually gave it to the city of LA. This is a rare landmark and a true treat for a Frank Lloyd Wright fan. It's located in Barnsdall Art park in Los Feliz. The architect's incredible talent and artistry is on display. Wright took Aline Barnsdall's (the heiress) favorite flower - the hollyhock - as his inspiration and created architectural versions of it from stone, wood, and glass that became the central elements of the house. The house is very illustrative of Wright's vision for the right style of architecture for California - the Mayan Revival. The Hollyhock House is yet another gem of the LA historic architecture. It's a true treat for its fans.

Hollyhock (1921) - drove by the Hollywood Bowl to get here. Open to public but not on the day we went. "The house and grounds were used as the temple of the Piranha Women in 1989's Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death... Overlooking Hollywood Boulevard to the east and presenting panoramic views west towards the Pacific Ocean, the 36-acre hilltop estate south of Griffith Park was originally slated to include multiple structures dedicated to the arts. An eventual rift between Barnsdall and architect Frank Lloyd Wright meant that only three buildings would be completed: Hollyhock House, named after Miss Barnsdall's favorite flower, and two other structures referred to as "Residences A and B." As the members of the first generation of California Plein-Air Painters aged and died, the membership was filled by younger professional painters... other notable members include Sir Winston Churchill..." (see pics)

Though the interior is closed for renovations and the exterior is being worked on as well, the Aline Barnsdall Hollyhock House is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as the first Modern American architectural structure recognized as such. We found the surrounding Barnsdall Park green space beautiful and the view spectacular!

I've been on an architecture kick lately -- touring Pasadena's iconic Gamble House (aka the home of eccentric scientist Doc Brown from Back to the Future), driving all the way to Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Ariz., and flying to Pittsburgh to check out Wright's Falling Water. Yet, somehow I totally missed Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House, which is pretty much just 20 minutes from my place in Weho (and that's WITH traffic!). The Hollyhock House was Frank Lloyd Wright's first Los Angeles commission and an ode to good o'l California, perched high up on a hill in Barnsdall Art Park. On a clear day, you'll get a clear shot of the famed Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory. The home was built between 1919 and 1921 for Aline Barnsdall, an eccentric oil heiress who asked Wright to incorporate her favorite flower (the Hollyhock) into the home's design. It sounds easy enough. But let's just say, the relationship between the two wasn't exactly diplomatic. In fact, they clashed instantly! Docents are on hand to give you insight (aka the juicy gossip!). I did the self-guided tour and LOVED hearing all the stories -- including how Barnsdall worried about the budget (the house reportedly wound up costing $150,000--three times the original budget). And how Wright demanded near-total creative control. The tour is worth it alone just to see the crazy living room with a fireplace -- surrounded by a moat! Now why didn't we think of this design feature for my condo? ADMISSION: $7 per person (for either self-guided or docent-led tours) BONUS: Check out their full schedule online, for summer wine tastings in the park. It looks like a fun summertime activity.

I'm a huge architecture and museum fan. I'm also, a huge Frank Loyd Wright fan. Visited today with the family and was certainly nice to finally see a staple of LA history. We opted for the guided tour, although it was a tad on the short side and didn't enter the home. It was nice to get the history of the home however. Entering the home, you are required to put on protective footwear / shoe covers to protect the carpets. I'm glad they do this as this is a 100 year old historic art piece. The property has certainly undergone extensive renovation. The sections of the home accessible to the public are several rooms on the primary level. Unfortunately a good portion of the home is behind ropes not accessible. It was sensational to get to see such an amazing piece of architecture. I definitely recommend visiting, just be prepared for limited parking. (There is handicap parking next to visitor center, slightly hidden). Overall a nice (albeit quick) experience

This review is not about the tour you might get from buying the tickets on site for a nominal fee. I understand the experience can be very frustrating due to limited time allowed inside the house and the ugly fences that may still be there to keep people out. Photography I understand is usually not allowed inside. I went on the special tour arranged by a docent through the American Institute of Architects. We were allowed to take pictures while we were inside and shown rooms that were upstairs which was usually not accessible to the general public but hopefully in time it will be. The details of design on the this house and on most FLLW buildings were incredible. Every corner of every inch was fully thought out, designed and detailed to perfection. FLLW had a crew of very talented designers and drafters at Taliesin who made this possible under the orchestration of the master. Rudolf Schindler, a master architect in his own right was involved in the construction of this house. The architectural details flow and end harmoniously throughout the house in this Mayan inspired complex and this is evident when you have a chance to see this house in person. Photos cannot do justice to the building. Photography does not yet represent the 180 degree view of what our eyes perceive. The photographs I took are just rectangular 27 degree view of the spaces; it has no peripheral vision, which exist in a real life experience. It is the richness and the depth of the designs of FLLW that make him so popular to the general public. Even if you cannot fully comprehend the vocabulary of the design one can appreciate the innate beauty of the spaces just as you would of nature.

$7 entrance fee per adult and free parking with knowledgeable free guides inside the Hollyhoke home... You can also take a free guided tour of the outside of the small Hollyhoke home built by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. You can see interesting views of LA, including the hill with the Hollywood sign. There is no gift shop available.

Once you buy your tickets at the LA Municipal Art Gallery that is just a 60-second walk away from Hollyhock House, wait for the tour guide to open Hollyhock's concrete entrance doors. Yes, it's all a bit Oz-like. A tour of Hollyhock House starts on time, so don't be late and buckle yourself in for a fast 60-minute whirlwind tour that starts off like a tightly-wound coil-springed toy car and only slows down as the tour ends and you're walking out the door. You'll bounce around from room to room and won't have time for questions here because facts and anecdotes will be shot at you like pellets from a gun. Hollyhock was built between 1919 and 1921 for Aline Barnsdall -- a woman who seems to have known everyone -- and the house was Frank Lloyd Wright's first LA project. It's nouveau-Aztec Mexico on the outside with familiar Wright flourishes on the inside. You're going to get whiplash here as the tour guide points out things left and right. Although Aline Barnsdall lived in the house for only five years and donated the premises -- with stunning views of everything LA, by the way -- to form an arts park, this house has had more design changes and renovations than a house on a movie studio set. Although the living room interior has been renovated with furniture installed to give you a good sense of the place, the rest of the house is pretty worn, empty and confused inside. It looks like the preservationists have no clue where to begin because there were more renovations over the years than actual architectural drawings. All of a sudden your frenzied 60-minute tour ends and you're shuttled out the door quickly wondering what to make of it all. It seems like a reflection of Aline Barnsdall's short time at Hollyhock.

I enjoy learning about Los Angeles history, and Frank Wright is a major figure in the development of homes in the early 1900's. The views are of the Hollywood sign and the Hollywood Hills with a plush yard and viewing pool to the south. Interestingly, I found out that flow was an important element of his design, creating low ceilings from the entrance, leading to a higher ceiling in the living room and kitchen. nice viewing gardens with portals are found throughout the house, with many nice artisan work on mahogany wood windows. It seems libraries were big those days, as there was no television or internet, but expanding the mind of an aristocratic owner was very popular. The home is not yet completed, with an upstairs yet to be finished, and restrooms installed below the home that are not in use. I'm waiting until it's all finished, so I can enjoy the full effect of the Frank Lloyd Wright vision.

Honestly, only go if you are in the area (which my boyfriend and I were). Otherwise, it is not worth the trip. First, the $7 price for adults is not a lot, but the price is not worth the experience you get (in my opinion). Only a portion of the house is available to view. They have booklets available that you can take with you as you explore the limited rooms available to see, but I think what they should also do is have signs with info available that give you the gist of the area you are seeing as the booklet is very wordy and I can't imagine everyone has the will to go over the whole thing. They also have a few docents stationed, but they tend to be occupied talking to someone else. They also make you put on shoe covers, which I understand because I work at a historic house museum. But I think they could also just put some rugs or carpeting down like Hearst Castle does. I do hope this place expands because it is a pretty neat place in a neat location.

Love this house. Dislike the whiners. Whining about accessibility is pointless when most of Frank Lloyd Wright's designs are inherently inaccessible with lots of structural flaws. Hollyhock is no exception, with its unusually low ceilings, narrow passageways, weird steep stairs between a mess of split levels- it would be pretty much impossible to renovate the entire house to be accessible. Also, in case you missed it while you were busy stewing in resentment, the docents pretty clearly address the issues with water and temperature damage to the poured concrete, woodwork, textiles, etc. which make the house pretty fragile. Coupled with the unique fact that the furniture and textiles were specifically designed for this house and fill it pretty extensively, there is not a lot of room anyway for more access. Appreciate the access you do have - Hollyhock was a veritable dump before it was miraculously and meticulously restored less than 5 years ago. Put your whining efforts into advocating for more access to affordable housing in LA instead of more access into an expensive, architecturally messy FLW museum piece. Love you Hollyhock.

I have been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright. When I had a neighbor who studied at the Wright School in Taliesin and Taliesin West, the idea of touring one of Wright's houses was too much to resist. Since I no longer live closer to Fallingwater than his homes in the West, I planned on one of my trips to Los Angeles to take a tour of the Hollyhock House as this is the only Wright house open for tours. No photographs are allowed on the tour so if you want to see the interior, you have to visit a website that shows them such as the Friends of Hollyhock House art http://hollyhockhouse.net According to their website, tours have been discontinued until restoration work is complete. I'd watch the website for a tour in the future. It is so worth it to take the docent led tour. One wouldn't notice that Wright made the entry ceiling low so that when you got inside the door, the ceilings would appear higher and the house have a more open and grand look. These are the things you learn on the tour. You also will be shown the hidden keyhole in the front door. Before or after your tour, spend some time in Barnsdall Art Park where the house is located along Hollywood Boulevard. Enjoy the views of the basin including the iconic Hollywood sign on Mt. Lee.

I wish my house were more like this. Very old school meets clean simplicity of the orient. Perfection. Frank Lloyd Wright is today and the future of design yet, this house was built before our grandparents were born. Come check out the future and your next homes inspiration.

We really enjoyed visiting the HH and the Barnsdall Art Park. We will definitely be bringing our out of town guests to visit this place. How amazing to get to see the restored interior of the HH. A must see.

We've been to the Barnsdall Park for years, but only saw the exterior of the Hollyhock house and wanted to visit it. We were also interested to see anything that Frank Lloyd Wright created so we took advantage of the re-opening of the Hollyhock house in February 2015 (after a few years of renovations) It's opened Thursday-Sundays from 11am to 4 pm. They created a Visitor's Center (across from the house) where you can purchase tickets and gather some info (tickets are $7, for seniors and students $3- credit card only!). We had to cover our shoes with some slippers they provide you with. You can take a self-guided tour, they do have printed information you can check out while you walk around. There is staff around in case you have additional questions, everyone is nice. The history of the house is interesting and we enjoyed the views from the inside. You can check out most of the rooms-living room, see the dining room, etc. The place isn't that big, but if you're interested in architecture and design, it's more than worth it to check it out, see how the style of the exterior carries inside. Bit of LA history. You can also roam around in the park to see the beautiful vistas or visit the Municipal Art Gallery near by. Free parking. No photography allowed.

Hollyhock House was recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and as a result, more rooms are open to the public. On Self-Guided Tour days visitors may now walk into the Dining Room, Living Room, Study, and Breakfast Room (which were previously roped off). $7 for adults and $3 for students and seniors is a bargain these days when compared to the cost of other historic houses and museums. I have loved this house for years, but the main areas of Hollyhock House look amazing after a four-year restoration. Highlights include the Entry Pergola, Entry, Dining Room, Music Room, Loggia, Living Room, Study, and the Inner Courtyard. The interior surfaces in the main rooms have been restored to their original colors. Don't miss Frank Lloyd Wright's fantastic cast concrete Bas-relief over the fireplace, and the re-created bi-fold glass doors to the courtyard also designed by Wright. The house is open Thursday-Sunday for Self-Guided tours. The Visitor's Center, located in the original garage, opens at 11:00 AM, and the Last Entry is at 3:30 PM. (Important note: Payment by credit card only.) Informative booklets are available for you to use as you wander, but the knowledgeable Volunteer Docents are happy to answer questions and tell you about the house and its history. Docents now also lead brief exterior tours at 11:15, 12:00, and 12:45 Thursday thru Sunday for an additional $7. Many people don't know about the best bargain...Hour-long Docent-led tours are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11:00 and 12:30 for $7 per person with a max of ten visitors on each tour. Docent-led tours now go through all the areas listed above, as well as the south-wing gallery, the private bedrooms, and a walk through the inner courtyard. Advance reservations must be made for a Docent­-led tour. Check out the website culturela.org/cultural-centers/hollyhock-house/ for more info and tickets, or call (323) 988-0516.

Fantastic Frank Lloyd Wright home certainly worth touring especially for a very modest $7.00 ticket price. Well cared for interior spaces. Friendly and knowledgeable docents.

This rating is for one of the docents. I should begin by saying I have traveled the world and I've never been treated like this by anyone in any museum or any public attraction.....ever. We arrived and were given shoe covers. Apparently photo taking is not allowed but I did not hear the instruction as my head was down putting on covers. There were no signs posted. After taken a couple of photos, maybe ten minutes into the visit, an older docent approached me with a mean look on her face and said I had been told THREE TIMES not to take photos. What? No one had come up to me at all. She said the others had "come and got her." They had "told me," she said. I told her no one had asked or told me anything. Whereupon she said, "Are you calling me a liar?" I replied, "Are you calling ME a liar?" She was vicious. Her face was in an angry hard expression and she behaved vilely to me for no reason. Even her face in repose was in a nasty expression...probably from a regular practice of being atrociously impolite. It is hard to believe a woman with her unpleasant personality would be placed in a position to deal with the public on a daily basis. I did not let her cow me though, as she would have liked. I had done nothing wrong knowingly and of course I immediately stopped the photography. You don't need dreadful people like this in places of public interest. They do harm to the image of the place. Perhaps they live to exert their meager power over others, I don't know. But she should be removed before she attacks a weaker person.

As this being Frank Lloyd Wright's first house built in Los Angeles, this was my first time physically visiting one of his works. I came here for the reopening that consisted of a "free self-guided" tour. When I walked up the stairs I was confronted by this massive line of like-minded individuals! Luckily the opening didn't start on time for people to view the house, plus I had time to kill before my next engagement, so I signed up to be the last person in line. Yep, I was that guy no one wanted to be. But soon after I felt relieved when the line started to move and people followed suit behind me. The wait time was roughly 90 minutes but it gave me the opportunity to read the history of the "Orchard Hill" and tussles between Frank Lloyd Wright, Aline Barnsdall, and the City of Los Angeles. Upon entering volunteers give you shoe covers that must be worn at all times. My assumptions before walking in was seeing ALL of the house: being able to go in-and-out of rooms, sit down in chairs, experience actually living there. But nope, that didn't happen. This "self-guided" tour covered part of the house. What kept me interested were the docents positioned within the house to give detailed stories. It was cool to be apart of the reopening but I'll be back to check out the guided tours.

I was only able to visit the outside of Hollyhock House earlier this month since it happened to be closed when I went. Nonetheless, the architecture of the house was nice to see and aesthetically pleasing. :) While you are at Barnsdall Park, make sure you go to the House for a visit if you can. It's only $7 to enter, so if I'm in the area again in the future -- I may drop by. I heard about the renovation and how it was completed in mid-February 2015. That's great, another attraction for people to visit!

This was seriously such an amazing tour led by a knowledgable friendly staff. We went on the first day the museum was open after the pandemic and it was just beautiful. The guides took so much time to explain things to us and I learned so much. Can't believe I didn't know about this hidden gem so close to me. Will be coming back with all my friends who visit.