Located on Mt. Lee in Griffith Park, the Hollywood Sign is the most famous sign in the world. Originally built in 1923 at a cost of $21,000, the gargantuan “Hollywoodland” sign was intended as an advertising gimmick to promote sales of homes.

The letters about 30 feet wide and 50 feet tall, were studded with thousands of low wattage light bulbs, illuminating the sign for miles. Maintenance was discontinued in 1939 and all 4,000 light bulbs were soon stolen and the sign otherwise vandalized.

In 1949, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce stepped into the picture. Restored, the sign now read, “Hollywood.”

A fundraising campaign was launched in 1978 by the Chamber to rebuild the Sign after it had seriously deteriorated again.

When completed, the new landmark stood 45 feet high, was 450 feet in length and weighed 480,000 pounds.

The new Hollywood sign was formally unveiled live on November 14, 1978, Hollwood's official 75th anniversary.