Charles Fleming is one of the world experts on public staircases and the author of a series of books called ‘Secret Stairs’. Fleming started walking in Silverlake as a way to get healthy (and avoid some surgery) and over time he became attracted by the hidden, historic staircases in fantastic neighborhoods around LA.
Most of the staircases were built in the 1920s when the neighborhoods along the hills of LA (Echo Park, Silverlake, Los Feliz, Beachwood Canyon, Rustic Canyon, Highland Park, Pasadena and more) were developed. The city was more pedestrian and the hidden staircases gave early homeowners in the steep hills more direct access to schools, shops, trolleys and streetcars.
Charles Fleming mapped these staircases over a period of 3 years and he shares many in a series of walks that make up the book ‘Secret Stairs – LA’. Each month he leads a Secret Stairs staircase walk…and as luck would have it, the August walk is just up the “hill” in Beachwood Canyon.
Check out the great story below produced by Roman Mars and get charged up for a City workout this weekend!
Roman Mars/99% Invisible – Secret Staircases – website/story
Beachwood Canyon Secret Staircase Walk Sunday, August 11 at 10am 2710 Belden Drive in front of Beachwood Market Secret Stairs on Facebook- 1.5 hours – 3.5-4 out of 5 level of difficulty (good workout!)
- Includes “sneaky” way to walk to Hollywood Sign
- Dogs on leashes ok.
- Street parking available.
