By Women, For Women Tour
Saturday, March 23
Tours every 30 minutes, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Florence Casler was a powerhouse developer in Los Angeles in the 1920s. Julia Morgan was the first licensed female architect in California. These two trailblazing women found great success in industries that were dominated by men in their own time, and left behind lasting legacies.

On this special tour, you’ll explore two buildings, one connected to each of these important women, and see how these buildings have been adapted to serve women in need today.

Tour site 1: Downtown Women's Center

The tour begins at the Downtown Women's Center (DWC) in downtown Los Angeles. Constructed as a shoe factory in 1927 by powerhouse developer Florence Casler, today this building serves as permanent supportive housing for 71 formerly homeless women. This beautiful Gothic Revival-style building also houses DWC's Day Center, where women can access meals, showers, clean clothing, and more. It's also home to the only women-specific health clinic in Skid Row, plus DWC's learning center, employment center, and the MADE by DWC Café.

Tour site 2: Hollywood Studio Club

Next, travel to the Hollywood Studio Club in Hollywood. The 1926 Julia Morgan-designed building originally housed dormitories for women hoping to launch their careers in the film industry, including Marilyn Monroe and Donna Reed. Today, this historic Mediterranean-style building operates as a temporary shelter for women experiencing homelessness. 

Learn the fascinating history of both sites, and see how these two places, developed or designed by women, serve women today.