A Glimpse Inside Bob Hope Patriotic Hall

When I first started venturing into Downtown LA one of the first things I noticed was the Bob Hope Patriotic Hall. Rising like a monolith on the outskirts of downtown I was immediately curious. It’s no secret I’m a huge Bob Hope fan and I wanted to know more about this structure. But….not curious enough to do anything about it. Time and time again I would pass by and wonder what the building housed and why it was named after the comedian. Eventually, I decided to look it up.

The building was erected in 1925 to serve war veterans and to this day it houses the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. It was dedicated to Mr. Hope in 2004. He had actually performed for the troops there during World War II and the hall was dedicated to him as an honorary veteran of the armed forces. Buoyed by these facts I decided I’d like to visit the structure. The only problem? It was closed. After years of neglect the building had shut down to undergo a multi-year comprehensive restoration.

In 2013 the building reopened and I continued to pass by with curiosity. Then one Saturday I was driving by with my family and Shannon asked if we could try to get in. Yes! Let’s do it. We parked in the lot and she approached a couple of veterans having a conversation. They told her they weren’t sure if it was open to the public but if she was turned away at the door they’d come help her get in. She continued on, spoke with the friendly security guard and….

Success! It turned out that the building was normally closed on Saturdays but there had been a special event that was just wrapping up. We were welcomed in and even given an guided tour of the lobby. After years of wondering I was finally inside and it was fantastic. The interior is beautiful. There are murals everywhere including a trio by well know muralist, Kent Twitchell.

There was also a trio of WPA murals by A. J. Leitner that were restored during the renovation. I was especially fond of these pieces that depicted serviceman throughout the years.

We were also told that the hall housed a library containing rare military manuscripts that date back to the Civil War. The library is still a work in progress but the plan is to one day have it open to the public. I can’t wait to return to explore the collection.

Despite visiting the hall when it was technically closed to the public we were welcomed with open arms by each individual we spoke to. Everyone loved the hall and was happy to share its beautiful restoration with others. If you’re in the area – stop by. It’s truly a Los Angeles treasure.