OpenStreetMap (new tab)

Google Map (new tab)

Building History

When the first Los Angeles High School needed to be moved to make way for a new County Court House, the school was transported with great effort to Fort Moore Hill, where the Fort Moore Hill Pioneer Memorial and the headquarters of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education stood before 2000. This second public high school in Los Angeles was designed by Jasper N. Preston, and was dedicated for the public on 12/30/1890. The Los Angeles Herald said of the new school: "The new high school building, on Castellar street, was formally opened to the public last night by the board of education, the dedicatory ceremonies being held under the auspices of the Los Angeles high school Alumni society. The building is in the Romanesque style of architecture, and is a noble specimen of that noble school. It is admirably proportioned; all its lines are graceful, and it is of an elevated and inspiring type. Its high entrances, long windows and tall towers, all have an elevating effect upon the mind. The internal arrangements of the building and the provisions made for escape in case of fire show how constantly the uses of the structure were before the mind of the architect, Mr. J.N. Preston, of the Bryson-Bonebrake block, this city. The gentleman has erected a great many public buildings in his day, and all of them bear the impress of a thorough knowledge of the art, and of originality of design. The edifice was erected under the supervision of Mr. Robert Beyrle, contractor of this city, who has done good work upon all the departments thereof." (See "Ready for Work: the New High School Building Formally Dedicated," Los Angeles Herald, vol. 35, no. 78, 12/31/1890, p. 4.)

Building Notes

The second Los Angeles High School was a four-story masonry Romanesque Revival structure, with arched windows, corner turrets, and a compound hipped roof punctuated in spots by wall dormers. A colossal bell/clock tower stood prominently on one corner, marking the school from a distance.

Demolition

The Los Angeles High School #2 was torn down c. 1917.

PCAD id: 9852