Bunker Hill

Developed in the late 1800’s, it was the residential district for wealthy businessmen, and, as such, was dense with Victorian houses. To provide residents with access to the downtown business district, the Angel’s Flight railway was installed. As demographics shifted over the decades, Bunker Hill suffered significant decline; by the 1960’s, Angel’s Flight had been dismantled. In the 1970’s, as downtown began to boast skyscrapers, several of those Victorian houses still standing and salvageable were moved to Heritage Square, where they may be seen up close. (The place in L.A. to see Victorian houses in situ is Carroll Avenue in Angelino Heights. Christmastide provides an occasion to see them at their most charming.) In 1996, Angel’s Flight was reconstructed and reopened; it now runs basically from the California Plaza (site of the summertime Grand Performances series) downhill to a spot across the street from Grand Central Market.