La Brea Avenue

La Brea Avenue is a prominent north/south thoroughfare in the City of Los Angeles and in Los Angeles, County, California.

It is known for having diverse ethnic communities, and many shops and restaurants along its route.

History

La Brea is the Spanish phrase meaning "the tar." The La Brea Tar Pits, which the 1828 Mexican land grant Rancho La Brea was named for, are to the west of its intersection with Wilshire Boulevard in the Mid-Wilshire area.

In its early history its northern section it originally followed Arroyo La Brea, a former creek fed by springs in the Santa Monica Mountains that flowed south into Ballona Creek. Originally the southern section of La Brea Avenue within Inglewood was named Commercial Street.

Route

La Brea Avenue begins north of Century Boulevard intersection in Inglewood, as a continuation of Hawthorne Boulevard. It passes north through the Windsor Hills, Ladera Heights, and Baldwin Hills neighborhoods. It passes through the eastern low Baldwin Hills mountain range, by Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area and remnant oil fields.

Further north, La Brea passes through the Crenshaw District and the West Adams neighborhood, and then through the Central Los Angeles area with the Mid-City West, Park La Brea, and Hancock Park neighborhoods. Entering Hollywood, it is the border of eastern West Hollywood and the city of Los Angeles.

La Brea Avenue ends just north of Franklin Avenue, at the foot of the Hollywood Hills in central Hollywood.

Transportation

Metro Local lines: 40, 212, and 312 operate on La Brea Avenue, as well as Metro Rapid line 740. Lines 212 and 312 serve the majority of La Brea Avenue and Lines 40 and 740 start at Florence Avenue.

The Metro Expo Line serves the La Brea/Expo station at La Brea and Exposition Boulevard in the West Adams neighborhood.

Landmarks

• Ray Charles Station, West Adams Post Office — honoring Ray Charles, on La Brea at Washington Boulevard in the Crenshaw District.

• La Brea near Wilshire is at the eastern end of Museum Row in the Miracle Mile district, which includes the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, George C. Page Museum, Craft and Folk Art Museum, Petersen Automotive Museum, and Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (in 2017).

• La Brea Avenue north of Wilshire Boulevard and south of Melrose Avenue has numerous designer boutiques, antiques and clothing stores, and cafés. The La Brea Bakery and the Lyric Theatre Los Angeles are on La Brea between Wilshire and 5th Street.

• Pink's Hot Dogs — on North La Brea Avenue, Hollywood.

• Charlie Chaplin Studios — built in 1918 on North La Brea Avenue, Hollywood. Later the A&M Records studios, and the present day Jim Henson Studios. A Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.