I've lived on Mt. Washington since 2009, and I assumed someone knew how the hill got its name. It turns out nobody knows for sure.
Three theories
The earliest mentions of "Mount Washington" for this hill that one local historian has found date to 1906, a few years before developer Robert Marsh laid out the neighborhood and built the incline railway up Avenue 43.
Where the name came from is less clear. Here are the three stories you'll hear:
- George Washington. The obvious guess, and the one most people make.
- Colonel Henry Washington. A local history society was told the hill was named for a surveyor who came to Southern California in 1855 to survey the base lines. Other historians aren't convinced.
- New Hampshire. There's already a famous Mount Washington back east, and the people selling lots up here surely knew it.
The sign on the summit
Whatever the reason, the developers wanted everyone to know the name. Huge letters reading MT. WASHINGTON were fastened to the roof of the reservoir at the top of the hill. Photos show the sign around 1912, years before the Hollywoodland sign went up in 1923.
The sign is long gone. The name stuck.
What it means if you live here now
The hill was named and marketed more than a hundred years ago, but the reasons people buy here haven't changed: the view, the quiet, and a neighborhood that feels like its own little town. For more about life on the hill, read my Mt. Washington guide.
If you're thinking about buying or selling on the hill, let's talk.
Questions about Mt. Washington's name
How did Mt. Washington in Los Angeles get its name?
No one knows for sure. Theories include George Washington, a surveyor named Colonel Henry Washington, and Mount Washington in New Hampshire. The earliest known references to the name date to about 1906.
Did Mt. Washington have a sign like the Hollywood Sign?
Yes. Huge letters reading MT. WASHINGTON sat on the roof of the reservoir at the summit. Photos show it around 1912, before the Hollywoodland sign went up in 1923.
Photo via the Los Angeles Public Library.