Downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Woody Guthrie

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 22, 2019

1. Woody Guthrie Marker

Inscription. Woodrow Wilson (“Woody") Guthrie (1912-1967), composer of "This Land is Your Land,” arrived in Los Angeles in 1937 along with thousands of other migrant workers and families from the “Dust Bowl” region. Guthrie hosted a popular radio show on KFVD and became a voice for migrant workers and labor unions. He wrote hundreds of songs and often performed them at rallies, house parties and street corners on Main Street between 4th and 5th Streets. In 1940, Guthrie left Los Angeles for New York where he continued to write songs as well as advocate for the working man and celebrate the fundamental ideals of America.

Erected by Grammy Museum at L.A. Live.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Grammy Award Winners series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.

Location. 34° 2.88′ N, 118° 14.829′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown Los Angeles. It is at the intersection of 4th Street and Main Street, on the right when traveling east on 4th Street.

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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 S Main St, Los Angeles CA 90013, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: San Fernando Building (here, next to this marker); Hotel Stowell (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Title Insurance Building (about 600 feet away); Spring Street (about 600 feet away); Spring Arts Tower (about 800 feet away); Biddy Mason (about 800 feet away); Judson Rives Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Palm Court (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

More about this marker. This marker is on the San Fernando Building, built by J.B. Lankershim in 1907, listed in the National Register

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 22, 2019

2. Woody Guthrie Marker

of Historic Places in 1986, and designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #728 in 2002. See Nearby Marker.

San Fernando Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 22, 2019

3. San Fernando Building

The marker is on the corner of the building.

Woody Guthrie Square image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 22, 2019

4. Woody Guthrie Square

“Songwriter, poet, voice of the Dustbowl refugees.” City Hall can be seen in the distance.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 886 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 23, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.