Silver Lake

Silver Lake's story begins in 1887 when the area north of the current reservoir was developed as Ivanhoe, named after Sir Walter Scott's 1819 novel, with streets referencing British literature like Rowena, Kenilworth, and Locksley. The neighborhood's transformation accelerated in 1906-1907 when William Mulholland built emergency water reservoirs for the growing city, with the Silver Lake reservoir named for influential Water Commissioner Herman Silver, who secured funding and approvals. The hills attracted bohemians and progressives from early on, later drawing modernist masterpieces. The area became a film industry center with studios for Tom Mix and Walt Disney, while simultaneously developing into a haven for LGBTQ+ residents and activists, establishing its enduring identity as a creative, diverse, and architecturally significant community.

The centerpiece Silver Lake Reservoir complex features a 2.25-mile walking path, dog parks, and the Silver Lake Meadow modeled after Central Park. The neighborhood's famous painted staircases, including the Music Box Stairs, Descanso Stairs, and the colorful Micheltorena Steps, draw visitors and provide scenic pedestrian access up the area's signature hills.

Silver Lake boasts more architecturally significant homes per square mile than most LA neighborhoods. The area is renowned for its modernist masterpieces by legendary architects Rudolph Schindler and Richard Neutra, who both lived and worked here. Notable structures include the Neutra VDL Studio and Residences, multiple Schindler designs like the McAlmon House (1923) and Oliver House (1933-1934), and the famous "Neutra Colony" on what's now Neutra Place.Other influential architects like Gregory Ain, John Lautner and William Kesling also contributed to the neighborhood's distinctive architectural landscape.