Petroleum Club Mosaic, the Wilshire Grand Hotel aka the Statler-Hilton, Los Angeles

    Newer Older

    A fragment of a mosaic mural at the long-vanished Petroleum Club in the Wilshire Grand aka the Statler-Hilton in downtown Los Angeles. The area is now used for storage. The hotel is scheduled for closure and demolition in 2012. The owners plan to replace the building with a huge new complex including a new hotel and office tower.

    Special thanks to Marc Loge, the Public Relations Director of the Wilshire Grand for taking me through the hotel.

    djwgilroy and Here in Van Nuys added this photo to their favorites.

    View 3 more comments

    1. suziqb 21 months ago | reply

      Wow, that is do cool

    2. Maureen Bond 21 months ago | reply

      now that is one mosaic, I'm glad you got in there.....another Hotel in LA....will be needed if the NFL comes....

    3. Chica-tica 21 months ago | reply

      very interesting!

    4. tombarnes20008 21 months ago | reply

      It's too bad that the mosaic tiles can't be removed easily. It seems that one would have to lift the entire concrete slabs out of the building. The Statler's solid construction has proven to be its own worst enemy. From a hotel management perspective, I am afraid that I can see that the relatively small rooms in the building cannot exactly be easily renovated to please the traveler of today. I still hate to see it go with barely a whimper of protest.

    5. Ben Ledbetter, Architect 21 months ago | reply

      Sadly, if there are protestors to protest "these days", and particularly in the U.S., the sounds they make are whimpers. Do you have photographs of the exterior? I'll have to Google and see what I come up with . . .

    6. Bill Baldridge 21 months ago | reply

      It is a shame to see them go.

    7. tombarnes20008 21 months ago | reply

      I have got many pictures of the place. The exterior is not as interesting as one might hope, especially since the Googie style canopy was removed in the 80's (at the rather stupid insistence of the city), but I'll see what I can get posted shortly.

    8. suziqb 21 months ago | reply

      Tom, I am so sorry about what the gallery, that was horrible of them. I would love to sell but have mo idea how to go about it, then I doubt my stuff is that good. You at least got some in a gallery. I would be so proud

    9. Eliza 110 21 months ago | reply

      How beautiful that is!!

    10. path*doc 21 months ago | reply

      If these walls could talk...

    11. Onasill 21 months ago | reply

      This is stunning and well framed for the effect,

    12. Chimay Bleue 21 months ago | reply

      Will be sorry to see this one go, too. Great mosaic!

    13. Andy Kennelly 21 months ago | reply

      very cool details and colors!

    14. joseph a 21 months ago | reply

      Imagine how cool this could be if restored into another lounge and not torn down. Sigh.

    15. MaureenLB 12 months ago | reply

      Is the same mosaic artist as who designed the mosaic mural in the Petroleum Club in Long Beach?

    16. tombarnes20008 2 months ago | reply

      Thank you for the article! I'm glad to hear that the mosaic mural has been saved!

    17. army.arch 2 months ago | reply

      What a great article. Thanks for the link.

    18. srk1941 2 months ago | reply

      Good news along these lines is rare!

    keyboard shortcuts: previous photo next photo L view in light box F favorite < scroll film strip left > scroll film strip right ? show all shortcuts