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

The Outpost II

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 26, 2023

1. The Outpost II Marker

Inscription. Spanish Colonial Revival style. Built 1929. Declared 1999, Historic-Cultural Monument No. 673, City of Los Angeles, Cultural Heritage Commission, Cultural Affairs Department.

Erected 1999 by City of Los Angeles. (Marker Number 673.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. 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° 6.338′ N, 118° 20.671′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Hollywood. It is at the intersection of Hillside Avenue and Outpost Drive, on the left when traveling west on Hillside Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1851 Outpost Drive, Los Angeles CA 90068, 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

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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: Dolores del Río House (within shouting distance of this marker); Home of John Lautner (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Magic Castle (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Nirvana Apartments (approx. 0.2 miles away); Garden Court Apartments (approx. 0.3 miles away); Villa Bonita (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hollywood Professional Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); C. C. Brown’s Ice Cream (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Regarding The Outpost II. Outpost Estates is a neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills consisting of about 450 homes. It is bordered by Mulholland Drive to the north, Franklin Avenue to the south, Runyon Canyon Park to the west, and Hollywood Heights and the Hollywood Bowl to the east.

The area was the site of the first building in what is now Hollywood, a three-room adobe house built in 1853 by Don Tomas Urquidez, near what is now the intersection of Outpost Drive

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 26, 2023

2. The Outpost II Marker

The marker is to the left of the door.

and Hillside Avenue. General Harrison Grey Otis, the owner of the Los Angeles Times, acquired the estate from Don Tomás through legal wrangling associated with California's joining the United States in 1850. Near Casa Don Tomás, Otis built a clubhouse on the property for entertaining, which he called "The Outpost."

In 1924, Charles E. Toberman acquired the property. He kept the Outpost name and developed the property as one of several 1920s Hollywood luxury residential neighborhoods. The area became known as an affluent area with many rich and famous residents. Homes had to be designed in Spanish, Mediterranean or California modern style, have red tile roofs, plenty of patios for "outdoor living," and be approved by architectural committee before being built. Most of the original houses have been preserved, and Lower Outpost looks much like it did in the 1920s.

In the 1920s, in the hills above the development, a large sign spelled out "Outpost" in red neon letters 30 feet high. It was intended to compete with the Hollywoodland sign, which later became the Hollywood sign. At the time, it was the largest neon sign in the United States.

The Outpost II House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 26, 2023

3. The Outpost II House

The Outpost sign was dismantled during World War II, and the wreckage of the sign was left in place, buried in the weeds. Even the original foundation and electrical junction boxes survived. The twisted remains were identified by hikers in 2002.

In 1967, a homeowners association was formed to combat what residents considered to be inappropriate development. In the 1980s, the group helped to prevent the development of Runyon Canyon, which is now a park.

The Outpost Estates development was one of the first neighborhoods in the country to offer all-underground utilities.

The neighborhood is featured in Episode 14018 of California's Gold with Huell Howser.
-from Wikipedia

Significance Statement:
The property meets the criteria for LAHCM designation because it is identified with "historic personages." Television game show host Bob Barker purchased the property as his residence in 1969 [died August 26, 2023]. The property is also the former site of the estate of Harrison Gray Otis, publisher of the Los Angeles Times. After Otis's death, portions of the land were purchased and redeveloped by Charles E. Toberman, widely known as the

Outpost Estates - Est. 1927 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 26, 2023

4. Outpost Estates - Est. 1927

father of Hollywood for his role in developing many of the area's subdivisions and iconic commercial structures.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 1,034 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 27, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.