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

Pico House

1869-70

— El Pueblo de Los Angeles —

Pico House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, December 4, 2018

1. Pico House Marker

Inscription. Known as the “finest hotel in Southern California,” the Pico House boasted “bathrooms and water closets for both sexes” on each floor. Pio Pico, the last governor of Mexican California, sold his land in the San Fernando Valley to raise money for construction of the Pico House, the city’s first three-story building and most elegant hotel. Designed in the Italianate style by Ezra F. Kysor, two facades were stuccoed to look like blue granite. The hotel had eighty-two bedrooms, twenty-one parlors and two interior courtyards. A French restaurant was located on the ground floor. Pico lost the hotel by foreclosure in 1880. From 1892-1920 it was called the National Hotel. The façade was restored in the 1960s and additional interior work was done in 1980-81.

Erected by El Pueblo de Los Angeles. (Marker Number 159.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Hispanic Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 34° 3.377′ N, 118° 14.357′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown Los Angeles. Marker is at the intersection of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Plaza and North Main Street, on the right on

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El Pueblo de Los Angeles Plaza. Marker is affixed to the wall to the right of the plaza entrance. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Los Angeles CA 90012, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rosas (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Rosas (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Pico House (within shouting distance of this marker); Vanegas (within shouting distance of this marker); Los Pobladores (within shouting distance of this marker); Quintero (within shouting distance of this marker); Villavicencio (within shouting distance of this marker); Merced Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Regarding Pico House. Pico House is California Historic Landmark No. 159, designated such in 1972.

Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry. Excerpt:

The resulting Italianate three storey, 33-room hotel, dubbed Pico House (or Casa de Pico) was the most extravagant and lavish hotel in Southern California, and its opening was cause for much celebration. It had a total of nearly 80 rooms, large windows, a small interior court, and a grand staircase. In the days of the hotel's primacy the courtyard featured a fountain and an aviary of exotic birds. The structure forms three
Photographed By J. J. Prats, December 4, 2018

2. Pico House
This side faces the plaza. Marker can be seen to the right of the entrance.
sides of a trapezoid whose open end immediately abuts the adjacent Merced Theatre, thus forming the courtyard. The back of the hotel faces Sanchez Street, where the large gate used by supply wagons and other large vehicles can still be seen.

(Submitted on December 19, 2020.)

Pico House in 1875 image. Click for full size.

Unknown photographer, via Wikipedia Commons

3. Pico House in 1875

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 7,804 times since then and 988 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 19, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.