Fire Station No. 23
historic place
Fire Station No. 23, located in Los Angeles County, was erected in 1910. This building served as an active fire station for fifty years, from its opening until 1960. For a decade, from 1910 to 1920, it also functioned as the Los Angeles Fire Department's headquarters. Notably, every fire chief from 1910 to 1928 resided within its third-floor suite. When it opened, the station garnered significant attention for its ornate interior and use of expensive, imported materials, including Peruvian mahogany. This led to it being nicknamed the "Taj Mahal of fire stations" and sparked a political controversy over its construction cost. After its closure in 1960, Fire Station No. 23 gained new life as a popular filming location for motion pictures and television. It was designated a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument in 1966 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The station's architectural distinction and its role as a central hub for the Los Angeles Fire Department for decades mark its historical importance.