It's hard to believe that one architect could be the man behind so many quintessential Los Angeles buildings, but John Parkinson left a long list of landmarks that we all still enjoy, including City Hall, Bullock's Wilshire, Union Station, Memorial Coliseum, many buildings at USC, the Alexandria Hotel, and the Homer Laughlin Building which famously houses Grand Central Market.

 

 

All of this was a far cry from his humble beginnings as a working class errand boy in Bolton in the North of England who learned about construction and engineering as an apprentice to a local builder. At 21 he made his way to the United States.  fter several years spent working in construction in various locations, he set up an architectural practice in Seattle. In 1894 he came to Los Angeles and over the years designed the string of buildings which have become a part of the city's urban landscape.

 

If you're interested in finding out more about the city's architectural history, or even just a certain building, you'll find a wealth of resources available at the Library.  ere are a few great book titles to get you started:

 

Gebhard, David

720.910941 G293-7 2003

 

Banham, Reyner

720.910941 B2165 2009

The last remaining seats: movie palaces of tinseltown

Berger, Robert
725.82 B496

Houses of Los Angeles

Watters, Sam
728.091 W346

Overdrive: L.A. constructs the future, 1940-1990
Wit, Wim de & Alexander, Christopher James (eds)
720.910941 O965