You’ve seen it. Even if you haven't actually stood on Sunset Boulevard with a camera in your hand, you've seen that iconic spinning globe. It’s perched atop a tower that looks like it belongs on a 1930s ocean liner, yet it sits firmly in the middle of a concrete jungle. Crossroads of the World Hollywood is one of those places that feels like a glitch in the simulation of modern Los Angeles. It’s tucked between the hyper-modern Netflix buildings and the grit of old Hollywood, and honestly, most people just drive right past it.
They’re missing out.
This isn't just a quirky outdoor mall. It’s widely considered America’s first outdoor shopping center, a precursor to every "lifestyle center" you’ve ever been to. But unlike a suburban mall in Ohio, this one was built with a specific, almost romantic vision of global unity—or at least, the 1930s version of it. It’s a weird, beautiful, and slightly confusing mix of architectural styles that somehow makes perfect sense once you're standing in the middle of the courtyard.
The Robert Derrah Vision: Why it Looks Like a Boat
To understand why Crossroads of the World Hollywood looks the way it does, you have to look at the architect, Robert Derrah. The guy was obsessed with the Streamline Moderne style. He didn't just want to build a retail space; he wanted to build an experience. Completed in 1936, the "anchor" of the property is a building designed to mimic a massive ship. We're talking porthole windows, railings that look like they belong on a promenade deck, and that famous 60-foot tower topped with a rotating neon globe.
It’s easy to dismiss this as kitsch. But in 1936? This was high art.
The idea was "cosmopolitanism." Derrah wanted shoppers to feel like they were traveling the globe without ever leaving Los Angeles. Surrounding the central "ship" are smaller buildings designed in various international styles. You’ve got a French cottage, a Spanish Moroccan villa, and an English Tudor house all within a few dozen feet of each other. It’s basically Epcot before Epcot was a thing. If you walk through the central walkway, the transition from "maritime vessel" to "European village" is jarring in the best way possible.
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The Dark History Most Tours Skip
History isn't always pretty. Before it was a charming landmark, the site was the location of a pretty gruesome event. In the early 1920s, a man named George Moore was murdered on this very lot. He was a local businessman, and the crime went unsolved for a long time, casting a bit of a shadow over the property. When Ella Crawford, the widow of a local developer, decided to build the Crossroads, she wasn't just building a mall—she was trying to rehabilitate a piece of land that had a "reputation."
She spent roughly $250,000 back then, which was a massive fortune during the Great Depression.
Think about that. The world was economically collapsing, and she decided to build a fantasy world where people could pretend they were on a luxury cruise. It’s the most Hollywood thing ever. It’s about escapism. It’s about looking at a vacant, stained lot and saying, "Let's put a giant spinning world here."
A Haven for the Creative Class
By the 1940s and 50s, the "shopping" aspect started to fade, and the "office" aspect took over. This is where the story gets cool. Crossroads of the World Hollywood became a legitimate hub for the entertainment industry. It wasn't just tourists buying postcards anymore. We're talking about real legends.
- Alfred Hitchcock had offices here. Imagine the master of suspense walking past a Tudor cottage on his way to lunch.
- The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was headquartered here for a while.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald supposedly spent time in these offices during his tragic final years as a screenwriter.
It wasn't a corporate high-rise. It was a collection of bungalows where people actually created the movies we still watch today. It felt private. It felt like a secret club. Even today, if you walk into the courtyard, the noise of Sunset Boulevard just sort of... vanishes. The acoustics of the curved walls and the greenery create this pocket of silence.
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Is it Actually Open to the Public?
This is the big question. You’ll see it on Instagram, but if you show up on a Sunday, you might find the gates locked.
Currently, Crossroads of the World Hollywood is primarily an office park. It’s owned by the Harridge Development Group, and for the most part, the tenants are production companies, music publishers, and creative agencies. You can’t just walk into the buildings, but usually, during business hours, you can walk through the central "street."
Don't expect a food court. Don't expect a Zara. If you go there looking for a traditional mall experience, you’ll be disappointed in five minutes. Go there for the architecture. Go there to see the "Mother Goose" style of architecture—that whimsical, storybook look that defined early California design.
The Battle for Preservation
L.A. loves to tear things down. It’s our favorite pastime. But Crossroads survived. It was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1974 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
That doesn't mean it’s untouched.
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There has been massive drama over the last decade regarding redevelopment. The surrounding area is being turned into high-rise luxury apartments and massive hotel complexes. Preservationists have fought tooth and nail to make sure the original 1936 footprint isn't swallowed up by a glass skyscraper. The current plans involve integrating the historic site into a much larger project. It’s a delicate balance. How do you keep the "soul" of a 90-year-old outdoor mall when there’s a 20-story building going up next door?
Some people hate the idea. They think it’ll ruin the scale of the place. Others argue that without the new development money, the old buildings would just rot away. It's a classic Hollywood standoff.
How to Visit Like a Local
If you’re going to check it out, don't just snap a photo of the globe and leave.
- Start at the Sunset entrance. This is the iconic view. Look up at the globe. It still rotates!
- Walk the central "aisle." Notice the change in pavement and the way the buildings shift styles. Look for the small details—the ironwork on the Spanish section is incredible.
- Check out the "hidden" back areas. There are smaller courtyards that feel like a forgotten film set.
- Go at "Golden Hour." The way the light hits the white Streamline Moderne curves around 4:30 PM in the winter is basically why people move to California.
Honestly, it’s one of the few places in Hollywood that feels authentic despite being built as a "fake" version of the world. It’s a paradox. It’s a movie set you can walk through.
What’s Next for the Crossroads?
The future looks like a lot of construction. The "Crossroads Hollywood" project is one of the biggest developments in the city’s history. It’s going to bring hundreds of hotel rooms and nearly a thousand apartments to the block. The good news? The original "Crossroads of the World" is the centerpiece. It’s being restored, not demolished.
It’ll likely become more commercial again. We might see high-end boutiques or coffee shops returning to those tiny cottages. While some purists hate the "Disney-fication" of history, having people actually using the space is better than it being a ghost town behind a locked gate.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Visit
- Parking is a nightmare. Don't even try to park on Sunset. Look for street parking on Cassil Place or use the paid lots near the Blessed Sacrament Church.
- Respect the tenants. Remember, these are working offices. If you’re filming a TikTok and screaming, security will toss you out pretty fast.
- Check the status. Before you make a special trip, check if there are any film shoots happening. Because it looks so "period correct," it’s frequently rented out for movies and TV shows, which means it'll be closed to pedestrians.
- Combine the trip. You’re a two-minute walk from the Musso & Frank Grill. If you want the full "Old Hollywood" day, do the Crossroads in the afternoon and a martini at Musso’s at 5:00 PM. That’s the pro move.
Crossroads of the World Hollywood isn't just a landmark; it’s a survivor. It survived the decline of Hollywood Boulevard, the rise of the mega-mall, and the total transformation of the L.A. skyline. It stands as a weird, beautiful reminder that once upon a time, we thought a shopping mall could be a work of art. Even if you only spend fifteen minutes there, you’re stepping into a version of 1936 that was obsessed with the future—a future that we’re currently living in, for better or worse.