Bradbury Building
Bryant Irawan/Indonesia Media
I was excited to finally be able to discover what Los Angeles has buried secretly for many years. A treasure hunt for Los Angeles’ most prized, hidden possession was waiting for me and I quickly embarked to Union Station. Upon arriving at the station, I came across the Metro Red Line. Once getting aboard the Red Line, I went off at the second station at Pershing Square. Unlike other Metro Lines in Los Angeles, the Red Line is a subway and all stations are underground which gives a unique aura. As I rode the escalator upwards, the sky became visible and huge, intimidating skyscrapers watched over me. After a quick photo on my camera, I headed onward on Pershing Square and met the Angles Flight tram
just beyond the corner of Hill and 3 rd Street. Though now a tourist attraction, Angles Flight or the “shortest railway in the world” was actually used as a quick transportation option to improve traffic from Bunker Hill to Pershing Square and its fare only cost one cent when it was built in 1901.
After another photo, I walked a block further from the station and arrived at the historical Bradbury building at 304 South Broadway in Los Angeles.
Though it was established in 1893, this building is far from decrepit. With five stories covered with cast iron, imported Mexican style tiling, glazed brick, rich Belgium marble, and polished wood in addition with a huge skylight, Bradbury building was once Los Angeles most extravagant preferred office to work. With all the expensive materials, Bradbury building totaled up to a whopping 500,000 dollars which was perceived as a fortune back in 1892.
 
The history of Bradbury is as amazing as its architecture. Bradbury building was the work of Lewis Bradbury, a mining millionaire that turned to becoming a real estate developer. In 1892, Bradbury hired 32 year old George Wyman, but Bradbury, himself, never saw the completed building due to his death a few months before the actual completion.
George Wyman, however, did not receive any formal architectural training, but he had accomplished what other architects deemed as impossible.
 
Sadly, the second story and onward is closed on weekends and I was not able to explore further –my only regret on this trip-. But, I started to become hungry anyways so I headed back to the Pershing Square station and discovered a huge market square I missed before across the street from the station.
Inside, spice merchants, fish marketers, produce growers, cultural food stands, and desert stalls could be discovered to fulfill anyone’s appetite. On the other end of the market, is Los Angeles’ fashion district and clothing stores piled side by side to the horizon. Though a little crowded, Grand Central Market has a natural relaxed feel which draws your attention elsewhere.
 
After being satisfied with the many miniature food stalls Grand Central had to offer, I headed back to the station and was shocked to discover it was already getting dark and all the attractions I visited consisted of only a block! It's amazing to discover really how much Pershing Square really has to offer to its tourists. Unfortunately, there was no more time in my schedule and I decided to return home.
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