Honestly, I've lived in California for quite a while and have passed by the Los Angeles City Hall hundreds of times, but I haven't actually gone inside until recently.

It's just been ingrained in my mind as a 'government building.' However, one day a friend mentioned, 'Did you know there's a free observation deck on the 27th floor?' and that prompted me to look it up, and I was surprised by how much history is contained within this building.

The LA City Hall officially opened on April 26, 1928.

On that day, over 15,000 people attended the dedication ceremony, which was a huge event for that time.

The design was done by three renowned architects, resulting in a 36-story building that stands 460 feet tall.

It was the tallest building in LA for 38 years until 1966.

The design of the top tower is quite unique, modeled after the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It's a proud example of American architecture from the 1920s when Art Deco was in full swing.

The construction method is also quite interesting.

When creating the tower's concrete, sand was brought in from all 58 counties in California, and water was sourced from 21 historic missions.

This was not just about using simple building materials; it symbolized the intention to encapsulate the land and history of all of California.

The interior floor features over 45 types of marble arranged in geometric patterns, and the elevator interiors are finished in bronze.

When you go inside, you feel overwhelmed by the scale, and the details are too good to overlook.

This building has been put to the test before. Since it was built using construction methods from the 1920s, seismic reinforcement was desperately needed.

From 1998 to 2001, a major renovation and seismic work were carried out at a cost of $135 million.

Using base isolation techniques, 416 high-damping rubber bearings, 90 sliding bearings, and 52 viscous dampers were installed in the building's foundation, allowing it to withstand an earthquake of magnitude 8.2.

It also holds the record for being the tallest building in the world that has been reinforced in this way. It was impressive that the re-dedication ceremony was held on April 26, 2002, the same date as the original opening.

The Hollywood connection is also noteworthy. The building appeared in 'The Adventures of Superman,' which aired from 1952 to 1958, and it frequently shows up in American movies and TV shows. If you enjoy American police dramas set in LA, you've probably seen this building dozens of times.

Let me also share some visiting information. The observation deck on the 27th floor is open for free from Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM.

You just need to bring an ID and pass through security. I thought it would be noisy and crowded, but it was surprisingly quiet. Most people were just taking a few photos and quietly enjoying the view, making it a great place to spend some time.

There are windows that are good for taking photos, although there is some reflection, but if you find the right angle, you can get some great shots. The day I went was cloudy, so my photos turned out a bit dark. 

Still, considering it's free, I was quite satisfied. If you're visiting LA for the first time, it's worth stopping by, and even if you've lived here for a long time, you might find yourself thinking, 'I didn't know this was here.'

I went without high expectations and ended up being pleasantly surprised. It seems like a nice stop if you're heading to downtown.

Guided tours are also available for free on weekdays from 10 AM to 12:30 PM. The closest public transport stations are Metro B·D Line Civic Center station or Metro A·E Line Historic Broadway station.

Considering the stress of parking downtown, taking the subway is much better. If you've just been passing by like I did for a long time, I recommend going inside properly; there's much more to see than you might expect.