The Great Wall of Los Angeles

This hand-painted mural stretches about 2,750 feet along the concrete walls of Tujunga Wash and shows painted scenes from California's past. The wall is divided into sections, each with its own themes and artistic style.

The project started in 1976 when artist Judith Baca worked with local youth to show historical events from the perspective of underrepresented communities. This collaboration made the artwork a platform for voices rarely heard in established history books.

The mural shows faces and stories of Native Americans, Spanish settlers, Mexican revolutionaries, and civil rights leaders through detailed imagery. These depictions give people a place in history whose voices are otherwise overlooked.

You can view the artwork from a walking path that runs alongside the Tujunga Wash between Oxnard Street and Burbank Boulevard. Access is free, and visiting on a quiet afternoon helps you see and read the details more easily.

The project continues to grow and is planned to expand to nearly one mile in length by 2028, making it one of the longest hand-painted artworks in North America. The ongoing expansion means the mural remains a living, growing collection rather than a finished piece.

Location: Valley Glen

Inception: 1976

Creator: Social and Public Art Resource Center, Judy Baca

GPS coordinates: 34.17913,-118.41430

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:31