Route 66, also known as U.S. Highway 66, the Will Rogers Highway, and the Mother Road, was established in 1926. This roadway was once the primary highway from Chicago, Illinois, in the American Midwest to the West Coast. It is 2,450 miles long and is one of the earliest automobile transport routes in the United States.
During the mid-1930s, the Mother Road stretched into the Los Angeles area from Pasadena's Colorado Boulevard and connected to a number of existing roads. Route 66 made its way to downtown Los Angeles (DTLA), followed Sunset Boulevard, and connected with North Santa Monica Boulevard to a young but already glamorous enclave, the City of Beverly Hills, incorporated only two decades earlier, yet quickly becoming one of the most celebrated destinations in the world.
In those days, Beverly Hills was still surrounded by rolling hills, citrus groves, and newly planted palm trees. Spanish Revival buildings, grand estates, and landscaped boulevards signaled the ambition of a town that had asserted its independence from Los Angeles. For a Route 66 traveler arriving in the mid-1930s, Beverly Hills offered the perfect day’s stop — a place to rest, dine, explore, and witness a unique city still writing the opening chapters of its history.
So, jump on in, buckle up, and enjoy a visit to Beverly Hills circa 1936!
Morning Arrival: The Lily Pond & Beverly Hills City Hall
A traveler motoring in from the east on Route 66, via North Santa Monica Boulevard, would begin the morning entering Beverly Hills along tree-lined streets that reflected the city’s early commitment to urban planning and beautification. In the late 1930s, motorists began to see the famous Beverly Hills city limit shield signs.
One of the earliest landmarks to greet visitors was the Beverly Hills Lily Pond (1907). Long before the city was formally incorporated, this tranquil pond served as a centerpiece of the original real estate development. Surrounded by greenery and blooming water lilies, it embodied the founders’ vision of Beverly Hills as a garden community with ample water supplies. The historically accurate replica that exists today was reintroduced to the site in Beverly Gardens Park in 2006.
Nearby stood reminders of the town’s early civic milestones. Beverly Hills officially incorporated as a city in 1914, allowing residents to guide their own growth. Less than a decade later, in 1923, citizens famously voted to remain independent rather than be annexed by Los Angeles. The proud decision was commemorated by the Celluloid Monument, symbolizing the young city’s determination to chart its own path.
The elegant Beverly Hills City Hall, completed in 1932, symbolized the maturity of the young municipality. Its Spanish Colonial Revival tower quickly became one of Beverly Hills' most recognizable landmarks.
Exploring along the shaded boulevards, visitors may have stumbled upon one of the city’s most enchanting private residences, and luckily for you, you can visit it today!
Mid-Morning: The First Grand Estate
Nestled among landscaped grounds was - and is - the Virginia Robinson Gardens, begun in 1911 by Virginia and Harry Robinson, heir to the Robinson’s department store fortune. The estate became one of the earliest grand homes in Beverly Hills and a gathering place for Southern California’s emerging cultural and social circles.
By 1924, the Robinsons had added an elegant swimming pavilion and pool and expanded the gardens into a lush private retreat of tropical plants, palms, and shaded terraces. For travelers accustomed to the desert landscapes along Route 66, the estate and gardens would feel like an oasis — an early glimpse of the refined lifestyle developing in Beverly Hills.
Now owned and operated by the County of Los Angeles, Virginia Robinsons Gardens is open to the public for historical, behind the scenes and garden tours.
Midday: Luncheon at The Beverly Hills Hotel
By late morning, motorists would steer toward one of the most celebrated landmarks in the region, The Beverly Hills Hotel, opened in 1912.
Set on a gentle rise surrounded by gardens and palm trees, the hotel had quickly become the social heart of the young city. Its Mediterranean-style architecture and expansive grounds attracted visitors, film producers, and stars of the rapidly growing motion picture industry.
Route 66 travelers might enjoy luncheon on the veranda, where farmland once stretched toward the horizon. Dining at the hotel provided a welcome respite after the long journey across the Southwest. Many travelers chose to stay overnight, but even a midday meal offered a taste of Beverly Hills luxury.
To learn more about Beverly Hills' early days and The Beverly Hills Hotel, read a free digital version of Beverly Hills: The First 100 Years, courtesy of the author, Robert S. Anderson. Mr. Anderson was the great-grandson of Margaret Anderson and grandson of Stanley Anderson, who were the founding proprietors of The Beverly Hills Hotel.
Afternoon: Speedway Memories, Architecture & Civic Pride
After lunch, a visitor exploring Beverly Hills in the mid-1930s would encounter reminders of the town’s brief flirtation with high-speed spectacle.
From 1919 to 1924, the Beverly Hills Speedway had drawn crowds to watch daring motor races on its wooden track. Although the speedway no longer stood by the 1930s, locals still spoke of the roaring engines and festive crowds that once filled the air with excitement. The course, covering most of the southwest quadrant of the city, barely made it through half of the Roaring Twenties. Look for the Golden Shield cultural recognition plaques at the corner of Bedford Drive and Wilshire Boulevard and the corner of Beverly Drive and Olympic Boulevard.
Among the notable structures built on land formerly traversed by motor vehicles was the Beverly Wilshire Apartment Hotel (1928). The same year, Edward L. Doheny completed Greystone Mansion, a 55-room estate, a wedding gift for his son, which is now owned by the City of Beverly Hills and operated as a museum, park, and event venue. The imposing stone mansion overlooks the city from the foothills. Its English-inspired architecture, gardens, and terraces made it one of the most remarkable residences in Southern California.
Nearby stood another curious landmark: the Witch’s House, originally built in 1921 for a film studio before being moved to Beverly Hills in 1934. With its crooked roofline and storybook design, it seemed to have stepped straight from a fairy tale, delighting visitors and children alike, as it continues to do today!
At the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilshire Boulevard, visitors encountered one of the city’s most charming features, the Electric Fountain. Originally funded by the Beverly Hills Women’s Club, the fountain celebrated civic pride and progress; the landmark was later restored in 2016. At night, its illuminated waters created a magical display for motorists arriving into the city in their Ford Roadsters or Buick Phaetons, among other models.
All this history of Beverly Hills may call for a break and refreshments. Just as the Beverly Hills Women's Club historically and currently hosts tea parties and social events, you may want to enjoy afternoon tea service at some of the city's luxurious hotels.
Evening: Rodeo Drive, Beverly Wilshire, and the Saban Theatre
As evening approached, the traveler’s route naturally led toward Rodeo Drive. In the 1930s the street was still developing, lined with fashionable shops and small boutiques that hinted at the world-class retail boulevard it would later become.
For dinner and an elegant end to the day, visitors could check into the Beverly Wilshire Apartment Hotel at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Drive. The hotel quickly became another gathering place for Hollywood society and discerning travelers.
Guests arriving from Route 66 might dine in the hotel restaurant, enjoying California cuisine while watching the glow of evening lights along Wilshire Boulevard. Many chose to stay the night, resting before continuing their journey.
Visitors looking for some entertainment may have headed to the Fox Wilshire Theatre, now known as the Saban Theatre, for a Fox movie premiere. The art house has been both a significant cultural and architectural landmark for Beverly Hills and Los Angeles since its opening on September 19, 1930.
An evening now could also include a performance at The Wallis, which resides at the former Beverly Hills Post Office on North Santa Monica Boulevard. Opened in 1934 in the Renaissance Revival style, its grand arched façade served residents, businesses, and film studios alike as the city expanded. The building and site were reimagined into the vibrant Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in October 2013. The Wallis proudly serves as a dynamic cultural hub and community resource where local, national, and international artists share their artistry with residents and visitors from all over the globe.
Beverly Hills: A Jewel in the Crown of Route 66
For motorists completing the long journey along Route 66, a day in Beverly Hills offered something remarkable, a blend of natural beauty, civic ambition, and emerging Hollywood glamour.
From the quiet waters of the Lily Pond to the elegance of The Beverly Hills Hotel, from the civic pride symbolized by City Hall and the Electric Fountain, to the fashionable promise of Rodeo Drive, visitors discovered a city that was still young but already extraordinary.
By the mid-1930s, travelers reaching Southern California understood that their Route 66 adventure did not simply end at the Pacific Ocean. Along the journey, they encountered Beverly Hills, a verdant city that had grown from farmland and oil fields into one of the most distinctive and recognized communities in America.
U.S. Postal Service Route 66 Forever Stamps
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of America’s legendary Route 66, the U.S. Postal Service released eight Forever stamps highlighting unique spots along the famous highway. One of the stamps features our historic Beverly Hills City Hall.
Beverly Hills Mayor Corman joined the U.S. Postal Service at the National Postal Forum in Phoenix, Arizona during the special first-day-of-issue event on May 5, 2026. “We are honored that our historic City Hall is part of the U.S. Postal Service’s eight stamp collection commemorating Route 66’s centennial,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Craig Corman. “This iconic road, stretching across 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, became an American road trip tradition that connected travelers to parts of the country they may not have seen otherwise. We are grateful that photographer David J. Schwartz found inspiration in our City’s architecture and cultural significance, which will now be memorialized on a Forever Stamp.”
To purchase the new Beverly Hills City Hall Forever stamp as part of the Route 66 collection, please visit USPS.com/shopstamps.
Edited May 13, 2026