The Hollywood Cross, is better known by it’s official name as the Hollywood Pilgrimage Memorial Monument. And if you’ve ever driven on the 101 freeway through Hollywood, then you’ve probably have noticed the giant, illuminated cross on top of a hill just to the north of the Cahuenga exit.
The Hollywood Cross is a memorial to Christine Stevenson, a founding member of the Theatre Arts Alliance, the group who built the Hollywood Bowl. The Alliance began producing plays exclusively with religious themes, but some members wanted to branch out with some productions of a more secular nature.
Ms. Stevenson had no interest in secular productions and in 1920 she built the Pilgrimage Theatre, named after her new production, the Pilgrimage Play.
When Stevenson died in 1922, the Pilgrimage continued to put on the Pilgrimage Play until 1964 when a lawsuit brought the play’s run to its end. This legal action stemmed from concerns about the separation of church and state that came about in 1941, after the County of Los Angeles was deeded the theatre and the land it was on.
In 1976, The Pilgrimage was renamed John Anson Ford Amphitheater in honor of the former L.A. County Supervisor and today it’s known simply as The Ford.
The Many Iterations of the Hollywood Cross
In 1923, in honor of Ms. Stevenson, a giant wooden cross was placed on the hilltop above the Pilgrimage Theater. It was lit up in the evening when her play was being performed in the amphitheater below.
In 1993 the current monument — a 32-foot tall memorial of steel and opaque plastic — was put in place and dubbed the Hollywood Pilgrimage Memorial Monument. Two years later, it was named the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #617.
How to get to the Hollywood Cross
To visit the Cross from the Ford Theatre, walk south along Cahuenga Boulevard East. Right before the intersection with Cahuenga Terrace, on top of a retaining wall, you’ll see a narrow trail leading up the hill. This isn’t the most obvious of trails, so you’ll have to look closely.
The hike is short, but the trail is quite steep. The path isn’t well marked or well groomed, so come prepared with proper shoes. The hike is challenging, but eventually you will come to the top of the hill at the base of the Hollywood Cross. From the top of the hill the views are spectacular.
Where to Park When Hiking to the Hollywood Cross
There’s no parking along Cahuenga Boulevard. Find parking on Cahuenga Terrace, a small side street just to the south of the cross. Or, depending on the time of day (and if you’re feeling bold), you can park in the Ford Theatre’s nearby lot.
The Hollywood Cross is now owned by The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, California.
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