Downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Title Insurance Building
Photographed by Craig Baker, July 4, 2023
1. Title Insurance Building Marker
Erected 1988 by City of Los Angeles. (Marker Number 385.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.
Location. 34° 2.896′ N, 118° 14.944′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown Los Angeles. It is on Spring Street south of 4th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 433 S Spring 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hotel Stowell (within shouting distance of this marker); Spring Arts Tower (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Judson Rives Building (about 300 feet away); Palm Court (about 400 feet away); San Fernando Building (about 600 feet away); Woody Guthrie
this page online
Regarding Title Insurance Building. Architect John Parkinson also designed City Hall, the Coliseum, Union Station, and Bullock's Wilshire.
"The architecture of the new Title Insurance Building in South Spring street, Los Angeles, might best be styled modern American," Donald Parkinson wrote in Arts & Architecture.
The 10-story structure with a stepped facade with light-colored, flat-glazed terra cotta housed the Title Insurance and Trust Company, who occupied the second, third, fourth and tenth floors. It was built at a cost of four million dollars (including the land) and constructed with the "finest materials obtainable, strengthened far beyond the demands of the most exacting of architects," according to Los Angeles Times. Hugo Ballin created the exterior tile murals, while Herman Sachs was responsible for the interior decoration. The Parkinsons relocated their offices to the building after it was completed. Following a devastating fire at Los Angeles Central Library in 1986, the building would serve as the temporary home for the Library.
Photographed by Craig Baker, July 4, 2023
2. Title Insurance Building Marker
The marker is to the left of the doors.
Photographed by Craig Baker, July 4, 2023
3. Mural
One of three murals above the entrance.
Photographed by Craig Baker, July 4, 2023
4. Title Insurance Building
Photographed by Craig Baker, July 4, 2023
5. Title Insurance Building
Security Pacific National Bank Collection
6. Title Insurance Building circa 1928
Credits. This page was last revised on July 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 443 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 11, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on July 30, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
