The Hollywood Sign is one of the most famous monuments in the world, standing high above Los Angeles. There is a lot of history behind these iconic white letters, including real estate marketing and major restorations.
This quiz looks at the landmark’s 1923 origins, its construction materials, and the people who helped save it. You will find questions about several key milestones and surprising historical events.
After completing this, try our quizzes on famous landmarks, film and TV locations, or mountains and landscapes.
In which city is the world-famous Hollywood Sign located?
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
San Francisco
San Francisco
New York City
New York City
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
What was the original purpose of the sign when it was constructed in 1923?
An art installation for an earthquake awareness event
An art installation for an earthquake awareness event
A real estate advertisement
A real estate advertisement
A movie studio promo
A movie studio promo
A local government tourism project
A local government tourism project
What was the full text of the sign when it was first erected?
MOVIE STARS LIVE HERE
MOVIE STARS LIVE HERE
HOLLYWOOD SIGN
HOLLYWOOD SIGN
CITY OF ANGELS
CITY OF ANGELS
HOLLYWOODLAND
HOLLYWOODLAND
On which specific peak in the Santa Monica Mountains does the sign stand?
Mount Hollywood
Mount Hollywood
Mount Lee
Mount Lee
Griffith Peak
Griffith Peak
Mount Santa Monica
Mount Santa Monica
In what decade were the last four letters of the original sign removed?
1940s
1940s
1970s
1970s
1950s
1950s
1960s
1960s
What material was primarily used for the original letters in 1923?
Fiberglass and resin panels
Fiberglass and resin panels
Reinforced concrete slabs
Reinforced concrete slabs
Steel beams from a shipyard
Steel beams from a shipyard
Wood and sheet metal
Wood and sheet metal
Who was the actress who tragically died after jumping from the letter ‘H’ of the sign in 1932?
Elizabeth Short
Elizabeth Short
Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Peg Entwistle
Peg Entwistle
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Who hosted a fundraising gala at the Playboy Mansion in 1978 to restore and replace the sign?
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner
Approximately how tall is each letter in the current, restored version of the sign?
35 feet
35 feet
45 feet
45 feet
40 feet
40 feet
50 feet
50 feet
What main factor led to the decision to completely replace the original 1923 structure in 1978?
It was demolished to make room for a highway
It was demolished to make room for a highway
It was severely deteriorated and suffered from structural decay
It was severely deteriorated and suffered from structural decay
It was destroyed by a wildfire
It was destroyed by a wildfire
It was seized by the government for non-payment of taxes
It was seized by the government for non-payment of taxes
In the 1978 restoration, nine donors each contributed how much money to ‘sponsor’ a letter?
$17,777
$17,777
$47,777
$47,777
$27,777
$27,777
$37,777
$37,777
What official status was granted to the Hollywood Sign in 1973?
A City of Los Angeles Historical-Cultural Monument
A City of Los Angeles Historical-Cultural Monument
A UNESCO World Heritage site status
A UNESCO World Heritage site status
A National Park Service historic site
A National Park Service historic site
A permanent billboard status
A permanent billboard status
In which set of years did the sign undergo its most significant construction or renovation milestones?
1925, 1945, 1975
1925, 1945, 1975
1920, 1950, 1980
1920, 1950, 1980
1923, 1949, 1978
1923, 1949, 1978
1923, 1935, 1990
1923, 1935, 1990
What was the estimated initial cost to build the original ‘HOLLYWOODLAND’ sign in 1923?
$41,000 to $47,000
$41,000 to $47,000
$31,000 to $37,000
$31,000 to $37,000
$11,000 to $17,000
$11,000 to $17,000
$21,000 to $27,000
$21,000 to $27,000
What did the original 1923 design use to illuminate the sign at night?
Neon tubing outlining the letters
Neon tubing outlining the letters
Thousands of light bulbs
Thousands of light bulbs
Strobe lights that flashed sequentially
Strobe lights that flashed sequentially
Reflective silver paint
Reflective silver paint
How is the maintenance and security of the sign managed today?
It became a private park closed to the public entirely
It became a private park closed to the public entirely
A dedicated trust was established for its professional upkeep
A dedicated trust was established for its professional upkeep
It was turned over to the California Department of Transportation
It was turned over to the California Department of Transportation
The Chamber of Commerce manages it directly
The Chamber of Commerce manages it directly
What famous alteration happened to the sign on New Year’s Day in 1976?
Pranksters altered the letters to read ‘HOLLYWEED’
Pranksters altered the letters to read ‘HOLLYWEED’
The letters were temporarily replaced with portraits of stars
The letters were temporarily replaced with portraits of stars
It was painted gold for an anniversary
It was painted gold for an anniversary
It was covered with a giant American flag for a national holiday
It was covered with a giant American flag for a national holiday
What key event in 2010 helped secure the land around the sign and prevented development?
A conservation group raised funds to buy the land from developers, adding it to a public park
A conservation group raised funds to buy the land from developers, adding it to a public park
The zoning laws were changed to forbid any buildings above a certain altitude
The zoning laws were changed to forbid any buildings above a certain altitude
The land was designated as a federal wildlife refuge
The land was designated as a federal wildlife refuge
The original real estate developers abandoned the rights to the land during bankruptcy
The original real estate developers abandoned the rights to the land during bankruptcy
What structural upgrade was made to the sign during the 1978 restoration project?
Electric neon lighting was permanently installed on each letter
Electric neon lighting was permanently installed on each letter
The height of the letters was doubled to increase visibility
The height of the letters was doubled to increase visibility
The letters were rebuilt using steel rather than wood and sheet metal
The letters were rebuilt using steel rather than wood and sheet metal
The sign was moved to a more prominent ridge nearby
The sign was moved to a more prominent ridge nearby
What major work was done on the sign’s letters during the 2005 refurbishing project?
They were reinforced with carbon fiber panels to withstand high winds
They were reinforced with carbon fiber panels to withstand high winds
They were covered with green protective fabric for the entire year
They were covered with green protective fabric for the entire year
They were stripped back to their bare metal base and repainted white
They were stripped back to their bare metal base and repainted white
They were completely dismantled and rebuilt in a warehouse
They were completely dismantled and rebuilt in a warehouse
Who was the publisher of the Los Angeles Times that provided the backing for the original 1923 development?
Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett
Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle
Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer
Harry Chandler
Harry Chandler
Who owns the property upon which the Hollywood Sign stands today?
It is owned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
It is owned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
It is owned by the state of California as a protected landmark
It is owned by the state of California as a protected landmark
It is entirely privately owned and requires a fee to view up close
It is entirely privately owned and requires a fee to view up close
The sign is part of Griffith Park, owned by the city
The sign is part of Griffith Park, owned by the city
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