Etta James Historic Cultural Monument Nomination
The Los Angeles Conservancy, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Where Women Made History initiative and Los Angeles City Council District 15, is nominating the former home of Etta James ("At Last", "I'd Rather Go Blind") in the Athens on the Hill neighborhood as a Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM). The residence is recognized for its association with the legendary Grammy Award–winning blues, R&B, and soul singer whose groundbreaking career continues to shape modern music. If approved, the designation would mark the first Historic-Cultural Monument in Athens on the Hill and in the Harbor Gateway Area.
The nomination effort began in 2025 when Council District 15 invited the Los Angeles Conservancy's L.A. Women’s Landmarks Project to collaborate on the designation, reflecting a broader commitment to address the historic underrepresentation of women in Los Angeles landmark recognition. The project team — including consultants from Historic Resources Group, Architectural Resources Group and local archivist Leonard King — met with community members on February 7, 2026 to launch the initiative and outline opportunities for public participation. Advocates emphasize that the nomination represents an important step in recognizing women’s contributions to the city’s cultural heritage, particularly given that only about 2% of Los Angeles’ more than 1,300 Historic-Cultural Monuments represent women and just 4% reflect African American history.
Learn more about the Etta James HCM nomination and LA Conservancy at the following link: https://www.laconservancy.org/learn/historic-places/etta-james-residence/
Watch the Etta James HCM initiative community launch below