Old Plaza Firehouse

William Boring designed this in 1884 the way they built firehouses in his native Illinois — horses stabled indoors against a cold that never comes here, and a turntable set into the floor so they never had to be backed out. It was the first building the city put up for firefighting. The engines left in 1897 and the rooms went on to be a saloon, a poolroom, a Chinese market, a flophouse and a drugstore before the 1960 restoration. The bronze's date of 1871 belongs to the department, not the building.

What the plaque says

Dedicated to the firemen of the Los Angeles Fire Department - past, present and future - who, since 1871, by their courage and faithful devotion to duty have protected the lives and property of the citizens of Los Angeles from the ravages of fire.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Colorado Street Bridge — 7.5 mi
  Beaux-Arts concrete arches curving 150 feet above the Arroyo Seco, opened in 1913 and later a link in Route 66.
• Mission San Gabriel Arcangel — 8.1 mi
  The fourth Alta California mission, built on Tongva land with Tongva labor, rebuilt after arson and now telling that story straight.
• Santa Monica Pier — 15 mi
  Where the Mother Road runs out of continent, and where the End of the Trail sign gives the drive somewhere to finish.

More markers nearby

• Lugo Adobe (Site of) — steps away
• Los Angeles Plaza — steps away
• Pico House (Hotel) — steps away
• Merced Theatre — steps away