Heritage Square Museum
Heritage Square Museum
4.5
About
Heritage Square Museum, a popular tourist attraction, features eight local and nationally listed historic buildings and residences from different areas of Los Angeles. For over 40 years Heritage Square Museum, a non-profit organization, has not only worked on preserving these buildings, but interpreting the history of Los Angeles during it s first 100 years of statehood.Heritage Square believes that the preservation of our shared history is integral to our community. Each of the significant structures on the site has a unique story to tell and a special place in the development of Los Angeles, from a peaceful valley to today’s sprawling metropolis.
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Neighbourhood: Montecito Heights
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- Heritage Square • 5 min walk
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4.5
47 reviews
Excellent
29
Very good
10
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Shahab Sheikh B
United States4 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Heritage Square Museum is such a cool spot! It’s full of beautiful, old Victorian houses with unique architecture and interesting stories. You can wander around at your own pace and explore each house. Great for history buffs and anyone who loves taking photos. Definitely worth checking out if you’re nearby!
Written 13 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KTITA
Los Angeles, CA67 contributions
June 2023
What a lovely surprise this place was! Just a few minutes from downtown LA, easy parking, a fun little gift shop and an interesting guided tour of the Victorian houses. Tom, our guide, was delightful, friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend visiting this place.
Written 26 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stelondon
Cuffley, UK213 contributions
July 2014 • Friends
We saw Heritage Square Museum from the highway the year ago decided that with visited on an extra to Los Angeles. We were not disappointed.
Heritage Square has about 12 Victorian houses, an old Methodist Church and a wonderful drugstore. Not all of the houses have been refurbished, but you do get the opportunity to see a couple of the houses via a guided tour. The museum is only open at weekends, but well worth the visit. There is ample parking. We did not find the admission charge $10 as being expensive.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of the tour was the drugstore. It certainly brought to life some of the scenes that we only see at the movies. I had no idea the reason why drinks was sold in a drugstore until I visited this particular parlour. While you waited for your concoction to be made, why not sample soda hot drink. Simple really. The drugstore is full of personal collection of memorabilia of the pharmaceutical industry. It's one of those places where you say, oh I remember them!
To the houses we used in the film "Saving Mr Banks".
A wheelchair could disabled people be useful. It is a long walk from the entrance to the furthest exhibit, the drugstore.
Heritage Square has about 12 Victorian houses, an old Methodist Church and a wonderful drugstore. Not all of the houses have been refurbished, but you do get the opportunity to see a couple of the houses via a guided tour. The museum is only open at weekends, but well worth the visit. There is ample parking. We did not find the admission charge $10 as being expensive.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of the tour was the drugstore. It certainly brought to life some of the scenes that we only see at the movies. I had no idea the reason why drinks was sold in a drugstore until I visited this particular parlour. While you waited for your concoction to be made, why not sample soda hot drink. Simple really. The drugstore is full of personal collection of memorabilia of the pharmaceutical industry. It's one of those places where you say, oh I remember them!
To the houses we used in the film "Saving Mr Banks".
A wheelchair could disabled people be useful. It is a long walk from the entrance to the furthest exhibit, the drugstore.
Written 11 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlanBachrach
Nashville, TN129 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
We found this attraction simply by going to the GPA and looking under Leisure and Attractions. I expected an old historic part of LA. We drove there and it was located in a so-so neighborhood. Initially we were going to leave. I didn't think my son would like it. However, I said to myself that I should see it now because we probably wouldn't return. It turned out to be great. It consists of several older house representing various time periods which have been moved to this small park. A tour guide took us through the houses and talked about the social aspects of life at the time the houses were built and also included artifacts such as an old icebox, etc. My son, who is interested in history, had to admit that he really enjoyed the tour. Our tour guide was named Rose and really made this a great experience. I fully recommend it.
Written 22 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fromdelmar
San Diego, California2,264 contributions
Los Angeles Heritage Square is an indoor/outdoor museum adjacent to the Pasadena Freeway at Avenue 43. Here, the museum is relocating and slowly restoring historic houses and other buildings. The highlights are a couple of Victorian homes and the Palms train station which was used as the “Pottsville Station” in Laurel & Hardy’s 1929 short, "Birth Marks." For the $10 admission charge, Heritage Square might be disappointing to some; however, due to the low attendance, you would likely get a very personalized escorted tour. I recommend it, if you are interested in architecture or Los Angeles history. You can combine your visit here with a trip to the nearby Charles Lummis Home and the Southwest Museum.
Written 16 July 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dromomaniac
Greater Sydney, Australia597 contributions
July 2017 • Family
These are beautiful buildings, and on/from the outside, they're historically accurate. However, take a tour and unfortunately you'll only see the first level of a few of the buildings, just to be told that much of what's in there is not historically relevant to the houses, and also you will see evidence of inappropriate renovations/modernization and irrelevant donated items that they don't seen to know what to do with.
Some of the inappropriate renovations were apparently done after the houses were reassembled onsite, including the removal of the old kitchen in the first house in order to make room for mannequins displaying period dress. I really, really can't understand what the curator was thinking when they made the decision to do this.
The tour, although interesting, was VERY long. In face, we left part way through as it became a bit repetitive and the kids got tired of having to answer questions instead of being told about the homes without having yo already know the answers. I think it was an attempt to get them thinking, which might be appropriate with school groups of younger children, but was a bit boring for teens.
Although I clearly have issues with the management of the site, I do appreciate the importance of preserving such lovely homes and I'm so glad that they've been saved from demolition. However, the lack of genuine preservation and restoration is very disappointing, particularly when you're told on the tour that this has been done in part by the current caretakers.
I would recommend visiting for an hour, taking photos and skipping the tour & you'll leave with a more positive view of the museum.
Some of the inappropriate renovations were apparently done after the houses were reassembled onsite, including the removal of the old kitchen in the first house in order to make room for mannequins displaying period dress. I really, really can't understand what the curator was thinking when they made the decision to do this.
The tour, although interesting, was VERY long. In face, we left part way through as it became a bit repetitive and the kids got tired of having to answer questions instead of being told about the homes without having yo already know the answers. I think it was an attempt to get them thinking, which might be appropriate with school groups of younger children, but was a bit boring for teens.
Although I clearly have issues with the management of the site, I do appreciate the importance of preserving such lovely homes and I'm so glad that they've been saved from demolition. However, the lack of genuine preservation and restoration is very disappointing, particularly when you're told on the tour that this has been done in part by the current caretakers.
I would recommend visiting for an hour, taking photos and skipping the tour & you'll leave with a more positive view of the museum.
Written 6 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caroline-Bennett
Ross-on-Wye, UK96 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
I would agree that the ride out to the museum is not great but it's well worth it. I was amazed at the houses and history. As a visitor from the Uk I am used to seeing much older houses bit these are so much a part of the history of Los Angeles it was a privilege to see them and the old railway station where Laurel and Hardy filmed one of their films. We would have liked to know that the tour takes about 2 hours and didn't leave enough time so only got to see the first 3 houses but that was great and we will re-visit.
Written 14 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AngelWandering
San Francisco, CA148 contributions
Jan 2015 • Solo
Allow about 2 hours for a wonderful docent tour of this Museum. You may recognize from several movies such as "Saving Mr Banks" and "Legally Blond". Period houses which are fascinating to explore. They also have a church and stable which you can only view from the outside. Old railway station where you buy tickets and has a gift shop. Best of all is a fully furnished Phamacy which a vast range of interesting items dating back to the last century. Easy acces off Highway 110. Highly recommend.
Written 12 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cynthia C
Willamette Valley, OR1,207 contributions
Oct 2012 • Friends
Heartwarming to think in this town where everyone is for sale that there are sill people trying to preserve and celebrate Los Angeles before she was nothing more than the seat of the entertainment industry. This is the place to go to remember once upon a time LA was home to someone glad to live there and live the simple life. Go for one of their events, better yet, dress up and really enter into the spirit of things.
Written 4 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Randa J
Los Angeles, CA112 contributions
Nov 2012 • Friends
It's sad that the average Angeleno doesn't know about this place. For mere $10 (or $20 for some events), you can go back in history living the Victorian era. The houses are well kept and they give tours very Sunday to teach you about the history of each house and it was moved from different locations around Pasadena/ la area. A must do when you are in la.
Written 5 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. I am so glad you found our hidden treasure and hope you visit us again soon.
Written 10 December 2012
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The website should have that available. The tours are very popular so book ahead.
Written 27 August 2022
Bonjour, est ce ouvert entre noel et nouvel an ? Y a t il des guides français ?
Written 24 February 2020
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