An iconic center for history, art, and culture in Los Angeles, Barnsdall Art Park is the legacy of Aline Barnsdall. A wealthy oil heiress, Aline Barnsdall (1882 –1946) was a woman ahead of her time. Unconventional and independent, Barnsdall was a supporter of the arts, an early feminist, and a proponent of progressive social and political causes.

In 1919, Barnsdall purchased a 35-acre parcel known as Olive Hill, and hired architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design an arts and theater complex on the site. She donated the property to the City of Los Angeles in 1927, stipulating its use an accessible arts center and demonstrating her belief that “no country can be great until the least of its citizens has been touched by beauty, truth, and freedom.”

The spirit of Aline Barnsdall’s vision endures today as Barnsdall Art Park, a vibrant gathering place and center for public arts and culture. Located at 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, the park and all facilities are operated by the City of Los Angeles.