Pershing Square Nightscape

Starting back in 1866 as a public square called La Plaza Abaja, or The Lower Plaza,” this area was a popular destination for many public events,... more

by James Hunt

Title

Pershing Square Nightscape

Artist

James Hunt

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Starting back in 1866 as a public square called La Plaza Abaja, or "The Lower Plaza,” this area was a popular destination for many public events, gatherings, and ceremonies for many years. It went through several renovations and names over the next half a century until 1918, when it was finally renamed to what it is currently known as, in honor of General John J. Pershing who served most famously as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front in WWI.
Decades later with traffic and parking becoming a serious issue in downtown LA, the city decided to make a major overhaul in 1952, demolishing it and starting new with a 3-level underground parking garage.
After years of neglect, it received a $1 million temporary renovation in 1984 just before LA hosted the summer olympics, and then a major $14.5 million redesign by landscape architect Ricardo Legorreta, which opened in 1994 as what is seen as the most recent appearance, boasting the 10-story bell tower, fountains, and a walkway representing the earthquake fault line.
Now, a little over a century and a half from its original conception, the park is up for yet another big multi-phase remodel, costing $110 million and estimated to be completed by 2030.

Uploaded

April 22nd, 2020