Hollywoodland, California and the Hollywood Sign

Hollywood California's most famous landmark are huge sheet metal letters spelling "HOLLYWOOD" that sit up on the hillside several miles from downtown Hollywood. The history of this sign is very interesting as it was designed as a way to sell real estate in this area in 1923. After construction of houses in the area many neighbors asked to have the massive letters, falling into disrepair, removed. But protests from city leaders and others led to a change to "HOLLYWOOD" to advertise the burdgeoning film and TV industry of Hollywood.