National Register of Historic Places

Fire Station No. 23

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Listed
June 8, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80000809

About this property

Fire Station No. 23 is a former fire station in downtown Los Angeles. Built in 1910 as an operating station, it was also the Los Angeles Fire Department's headquarters until 1920 and the residence of every fire chief from 1910 to 1928. The station created a political firestorm when it opened, due to its ornate interior and expensive imported materials, leading to its being called the "Taj Mahal of fire stations". After 50 years in operation, the station closed in 1960. It was declared a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument in 1966 and entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It has also become a popular filming location. Motion pictures filmed here include the Ghostbusters movies, Set It Off, The Mask, Police Academy 2, Flatliners, Firehouse and National Security.

Location

225 E. 5th St.
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
34.04578, -118.24661

Categories

ENGINEERINGARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Nearby Historic Sites

King Edward Hotel
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hotel Rosslyn Annex
Industrial
0.2 mi
Pacific Electric Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
Spring Street Financial District (Boundary Increase
Listed
0.2 mi
Spring Street Financial District
Listed
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Los Angeles
1846Mexican-American War
0.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fire Station No. 23 listed on the National Register?

Fire Station No. 23 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 8, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Fire Station No. 23?

Fire Station No. 23 is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fire Station No. 23?

The period of significance for Fire Station No. 23 is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Fire Station No. 23?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fire Station No. 23 will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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