Bunker Hill

03/11/2026

Come explore old Bunker Hill in March and April with Esotouric's Secret Los Angeles and their preservation pals.

On Saturday, March 21 it's the Bunker Hill Dead or Alive walking tour, co-hosted by historian Nathan Marsak and native son Gordon Pattison. https://bunkerhilllosangeles.com/2026/03/07/bunker-hill-tour-march-21st/

And on Saturday, April 11 it's the once-a-year birthday tour celebration of author and screenwriter John Fante ( JOHN FANTE’S DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES TOUR & BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ), who wrote so lyrically of life in the Bunker Hill apartment and boarding houses in "Ask the Dust" among others.
https://esotouric.com/event/fante-2026/

Click the links to sign up for one or both of these time travel trips!

04/01/2025

The buildings and people of old Bunker Hill live on in the beautiful books of John Fante, and on Saturday we'll set out in the footsteps of his alter ego Arturo Bandini to find that magical world once again. There will be cake and speakeasy tunnels and surprises--join us, do!

JOHN FANTE’S DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES TOUR & BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

03/25/2025

Out now, the republished wonder of Los Angeles Before the Freeways! First time in bookstores in forty-three years! Click the link to learn all about it, and these other fine books regarding our beloved Bunker Hill!

Los Angeles Before the Freeways is officially out-and-in-stores as of this morning. Go grab yours! And if you do not as yet own Bunker Hill, Los Angeles, grab that too! And if you want to know more…

03/11/2025

As detailed in my last post, there’s a new book about old LA coming to stores near you (does it have Bunker Hill in it? Of course!)… And to celebrate, two Saturdays from today, we& #8217…

03/08/2025

Greetings, friends! I began this blog in advance of the 2020 publication of Bunker Hill, Los Angeles. Since then I’ve self-published a couple more books about Bunker Hill — Bunker Noir! and M…

05/28/2023

Out now! The only guide that will tell you EVERYTHING about our famed open-air "Museum of Modernism!"

02/19/2023

It is Presidents' Day weekend! Which of our presidents visited Bunker Hill? Find out!

Happy Presidents’ Day! Yes, I know it’s really Washington’s Birthday (it irks me George is not celebrated specifically, he being my first cousin) but, I’ll accept it. After …

10/23/2020

After twelve years, the On Bunker Hill blog has spawned a book!

If you are fascinated by this lost Los Angeles neighborhood, you need a copy of Nathan Marsak's "Bunker Hill Los Angeles: Essence of Sunshine and Noir." Packed with unpublished photos from his personal collection and insights gleaned from obsessive scholarship and urban exploration, the book will transform the way you see Downtown Los Angeles and give you the tools to advocate for good public policy and preservation in your community.

Order "Bunker Hill Los Angeles: Essence of Sunshine and Noir" from independent bookstores
https://bookshop.org/books/bunker-hill-los-angeles-essence-of-sunshine-and-noir/9781626400672?aid=1923

or from Amazon
https://amzn.to/2HwEFOm