Here's How Some Major Landmarks Are Faring in the Los Angeles Fires

Southern California is fighting multiple major wildfires, exacerbated by hurricane-strength winds that have resulted in red flag warnings and evacuation orders in multiple zones. The current fires are the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades, the Eaton Fire, the Hurst Fire in the Sylmar area and the Tyler Fire in Riverside County.

These offshoots of Los Angeles are home to many cultural institutions renowned for everything from iconic Hollywood nightlife to groundbreaking scientific research.

Here’s where several of them stand as of Wednesday afternoon:

Will Rogers State Historic Park

The former home of actor, radio personality and humorist Will Rogers, a 186-acre ranch that was on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, was gutted by the Palisades fire.

People on social media posted photos and videos of the site, which showed only chimneys poking up through rubble.

The estate and historic park were home to many Western artifacts, as well as objects from Will Rogers’ daily life. In the 1930s, he was Hollywood’s highest-paid film star. His widow, Betty Rogers, had donated the house and stables to Californian in 1944.

According to the California State Parks website, horses and some of the cultural artifacts at the Will Rogers State Historic Park were safely evacuated ahead of the fire.

Topanga State Park

Parts of the Topanga State Park — a national park located within the city of Los Angeles that is known for its scenic hiking and mountain bike trails — were also devastated by the Palisades fire. The historic Topanga Ranch Motel, which was once owned by newspaper publisher and politician William Randolph Hearst, was destroyed.

Sunset Boulevard

The West Hollywood strip, known for its nightlife and restaurant scene, was gridlocked Tuesday by Los Angeles residents fleeing the Palisades area. Officials told those on Sunset Boulevard to abandon their cars and walk to safety. The Los Angeles Fire Department later moved the abandoned vehicles to make way for firefighters. The stretch of Sunset Boulevard between San Vicente and Crescent Heights remains closed.

The Getty Villa and Getty Center

Some trees and vegetation were burned on the site of the Getty Villa, a Greco-Roman art museum on the Pacific Coast Highway in the Pacific Palisades. The museum reported that collections and staff were so far unharmed and that fire and smoke mitigation plans were in place. Both the Getty Villa and the Getty Center, which is not in the current fire zone, will remain closed until at least Monday, Jan. 13.

Palisades Charter High School

A filming location for popular shows and films such as Teen Wolf, Carrie, and Freaky Friday, Palisades Charter High School has been severely damaged by the Palisades fire. Students and faculty are still on winter break, scheduled through Jan. 10. According to the high school’s website, they will provide updates for students and families prior to the start of the spring semester.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a research hub for robotic space exploration, is included in the areas with evacuation orders due to the Eaton fire.

Universal Studios and CityWalk

Though not under mandatory evacuation, the Universal Studios theme park and the attached dining, shopping and entertainment plaza, Universal CityWalk, are closed Wednesday “as a result of the extreme winds and fire conditions,” the studios announced Wednesday morning.

The Hammer Museum at UCLA

The Hammer Museum at UCLA, a contemporary art museum, is also closed due to the nearby fires and severe weather warnings. The University of California, Los Angeles campus, where the museum is located, has canceled classes for undergraduates and moved graduate classes online as of Thursday morning.

The Rose Bowl

As of Wednesday morning, the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena is not considered at high risk of being impacted by the fires. The stadium is being used as a large animal evacuation center, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens

The extensive collections in the library, museum, and gardens in San Marino, known as “The H,” remain safe as of early Thursday morning. The campus remains closed at least through Friday, Jan. 10. A few trees were lost and uprooted in the area due to high winds and the property sustained minor damage from falling debris, the Huntington shared on Instagram on Wednesday night.

Eames House

Located in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, the architectural landmark, famously made with experimental industrial materials, is at risk in the Palisades fire. The property, also known as Case Study House No. 8, posted an update to its Instagram stories on Wednesday morning that the house remained unharmed.

Warner Bros.

The Warner Bros. Studio in Hollywood, which offers tours — including backlots and sets from beloved television shows — is closed Wednesday due to the fire conditions and strong winds.

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, located in Griffith Park, closed to the public on Tuesday and remains closed Wednesday.

Griffith Observatory

The popular scientific observatory and planetarium located at the top of the Hollywood Hills is closed Wednesday due to the wind.

The Empire Polo Club

Home to the annual Coachella Music Festival, the Empire Polo Club in Indio has not reported any closures. The club is about seven miles away from the Tyler fire’s starting point.

Hollywood Landmarks

Hollywood Sign

Located in the Hollywood Hills, the iconic Hollywood sign remains closed as of Thursday morning, along with all of Griffith Park. The Hollywood Sign Trust’s official Instagram account posted an update to their stories on Wednesday night, saying that the sign was not on fire.

Hollywood Bowl

Host to many live music performances since it opened in 1922, the amphitheater received evacuation orders on Wednesday night. According to a post on their Instagram, all staff has evacuated the premises safely.

TCL Chinese Theatre and Dolby Theatre 

The TCL Chinese Theatre, a movie palace more popularly called Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, has hosted premiers and film festivals since it opened in 1927. The landmark was included in an evacuation zone on Wednesday. The Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards are held, was also in that zone. Both theaters closed Wednesday night. There have been no reports of damage and the evacuation orders have been lifted.

The California Newsroom is following the extreme weather from across the region. Click through to LAist’s coverage for the latest. Jennifer Vanasco edited this story.