Mulholland Dam

Mulholland Dam is a concrete gravity structure standing 56 meters (183 feet) high in the Hollywood Hills, creating a large reservoir that supplies the Los Angeles water system. The curved wall holds back water from several aqueducts and Weid Canyon, forming a basin that can store over 9.7 million cubic meters (7,900 acre-feet) of water.

The Bureau of Water Works and Supply built the structure between 1923 and 1924 under the direction of William Mulholland, the chief engineer. After the St. Francis Dam collapse in 1928, specialists carried out a thorough safety review and permanently lowered the maximum fill level of the basin.

The structure honors William Mulholland, the engineer who shaped early Los Angeles water supply and designed several major waterworks across the region. Visitors today see the result of his work: the calm water in the basin still serves parts of the city and remains a vital reserve.

The structure sits in the hills north of Hollywood and can be seen from several viewpoints in the area, accessible via public roads. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, as paths can be steep and uneven.

After the St. Francis Dam collapse in 1928, authorities decided never to fill the basin completely again to increase safety. Since then, the water level has been intentionally kept below the originally planned height, even though the wall itself remains unchanged.