By Michelle Edgar
As Hollywood prepares to welcome millions of visitors during the FIFA World Cup and LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, one nonprofit is working to ensure the world experiences not only Hollywood’s future, but also the remarkable history that made it an international icon.
At the Hollywood Heritage Preservation Center, visitors can step back in time through Hollywood in Miniature, an extraordinary 11-by-12-foot model depicting Hollywood during the late 1930s and early 1940s, while also learning about ongoing efforts to preserve and revitalize one of America’s most recognizable commercial districts.
Operated by Hollywood Heritage, Inc., a nonprofit preservation advocacy organization, the Preservation Resource Center hosts regular public tours that combine history, architecture and preservation with a rare opportunity to see one of Hollywood’s hidden treasures.
For Margot Gerber, president of the board of Hollywood Heritage, preserving Hollywood means honoring both its architectural legacy and its continued evolution. “We’re honoring what was saved 40 years ago while looking at what still needs to be preserved,” Gerber said.
That mission traces back to 1985, when Hollywood Heritage successfully led the effort to designate the historic commercial core of Hollywood Boulevard as a National Register Historic District, recognizing it not only for its architecture but as one of America’s most significant commercial and economic districts.
During Hollywood’s Golden Age, the boulevard was far more than the center of the film industry. It was home to banks, insurance companies, theaters, retailers and businesses that made it one of Southern California’s busiest commercial corridors. “When people think about Hollywood, they often think about movies,” Gerber said. “But it was also an incredibly important commercial district. We want people to understand how the boulevard evolved and why these buildings matter.”
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez shared that Hollywood’s historic buildings tell the story of how this neighborhood became a cultural and economic powerhouse known around the globe. “When we preserve and restore these landmarks, we strengthen the character of our community, support local businesses, and ensure that residents and visitors alike can experience the history that makes Hollywood unique,” said Soto-Martinez.
As part of the monthly program, visitors explore historic maps, photographs and architectural styles while learning how Hollywood Boulevard developed into one of America’s most recognizable business districts. The presentation, led by Fran Offenhauser, examines the boulevard’s historic core, its architectural evolution and the preservation challenges facing Hollywood today.
Among those challenges are the growing number of vacant historic buildings along Hollywood and Sunset boulevards. To address that issue, Hollywood Heritage launched The Hollywood Eleven initiative in 2025 as a long-term advocacy effort encouraging the adaptive reuse of significant historic properties.
Rather than simply advocating for preservation, the organization is actively working with property owners to understand the obstacles preventing restoration and reinvestment. “We’re already reaching out to property owners to understand what’s preventing these buildings from being revitalized,” Gerber said. “Is it permitting? Is it financing? Are there programs that could help them begin restoring these historic buildings? We want to be part of finding solutions.”
The initiative reflects Hollywood Heritage’s belief that preservation and economic vitality are closely connected. “Empty buildings don’t contribute to the vibrancy of community life,” Gerber said. “When they’re restored and reused, they strengthen the entire boulevard.”
For Ron Frierson, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, preserving Hollywood’s historic identity is essential to its continued success. “Hollywood’s history is one of its greatest competitive advantages,” Frierson said. “As we prepare to welcome the world over the next several years, protecting our historic landmarks while encouraging thoughtful revitalization ensures Hollywood remains both a global destination and a thriving community for generations to come.”
That balance between preserving history and looking toward the future is perhaps best illustrated by Hollywood in Miniature, one of the center’s most remarkable attractions. Built between 1939 and 1942 by cabinetmaker Joe Pellkofer, the intricate model was originally designed much like an elaborate train layout, complete with stores, homes, automobiles, streetlights and hundreds of handcrafted buildings.
The model traveled the country aboard a flatbed truck, appearing at state fairs where visitors who had only heard about glamorous Hollywood could finally experience a miniature version of the entertainment capital. “People had heard about places like the Palladium through live radio broadcasts, but they had never actually seen Hollywood,” Gerber said. “This model gave them an opportunity to experience what they imagined.”
Although some buildings were intentionally repositioned for dramatic effect rather than geographic accuracy, the model faithfully captures the character of Hollywood during its Golden Age, including landmarks such as the Earl Carroll Theatre, Hollywood Tower and numerous historic commercial buildings. Some original miniatures including the Hollywood Bowl and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre remain in other private collections.
Hollywood Heritage later acquired the Hollywood Boulevard section of the model, along with several studio-related miniatures depicting early filmmaking campuses. Recently, members of Joe Pellkofer’s family visited the Preservation Resource Center to see his work preserved nearly nine decades after it was created. Today, the model is undergoing careful restoration by professional art conservator Donna Williams, whose work is helping preserve the handcrafted exhibit for future generations. During the tours, visitors also experience the model under changing lighting effects, including black-light illumination that brings its painted neon signs to life.
For Gerber, the miniature serves as more than a nostalgic attraction. “Preservation isn’t about keeping a place frozen in time,” she said. “It’s about ensuring these buildings continue contributing to the life, culture and economy of Hollywood for generations to come.”
Hollywood Heritage is also looking ahead through The Hollywood Eleven, an initiative launched in 2025 to encourage the adaptive reuse of vacant historic buildings along Hollywood and Sunset boulevards. Rather than simply advocating for preservation, the organization is working directly with property owners to better understand what obstacles stand in the way of restoring some of Hollywood’s most recognizable landmarks. “We’re reaching out to property owners to understand what’s preventing these buildings from being revitalized,” Gerber said. “Is it permitting? Is it financing? Are there programs that could help? We want to be part of finding solutions.”
Gerber said restoring these historic buildings is essential to preserving both Hollywood’s architectural character and the economic vitality of the boulevard. “Empty buildings don’t contribute to the vibrancy of community life,” she said. “When they’re restored and reused, they strengthen the entire boulevard.”
Monthly public tours of the Hollywood Heritage Preservation Center include presentations on Hollywood Boulevard’s historic district and guided viewing of Hollywood in Miniature. Advance reservations are required through Hollywood Heritage.