A History Of The Hollywood Walk Of Fame In One Minute

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a destination for dreamers around the globe. The famous stretch of sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard symbolizes glamor, as it is marked with the names of the most successful actors, filmmakers, musicians and celebrities in history. As an icon of the Los Angeles entertainment industry, it’s no wonder fans come from far and wide to have a look.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

The idea for the walk came from a Southern California artist, Oliver Weissmuller, who was hired to help renovate Hollywood and make it more attractive to visitors and locals alike. Construction began in 1958, and two years later, the walk officially opened. Stretching 18 blocks – about 1.3mi (2.1km) from east to west on Hollywood Boulevard and 0.4mi (600m) from north to south on the cross street of Vine – it makes for a fun and easy twenty-minute stroll with a few photos along the way.

The walk passes right outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, one of the most lavish cinemas in motion picture history, where the young handprints and signatures of the Harry Potter cast can be seen along with those of classic movie stars, such as Frank Sinatra, Clark Gable and Julie Andrews. Stars have to pay a hefty fee of $50,000 to accept their nomination from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, after which they get to bring home a placard with their name on it and a replica of their star.

Crowds gather at the famous Graumans Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard

Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, California

Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with Roosevelt Hotel behind, Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California

The first star to permanently grace the sidewalks was director Stanley Kramer’s, and since then, names ranging from Tom Hanks to Michael Jackson and Meryl Streep to Marilyn Monroe have taken their place

alongside him. The one star that is not actually placed on the sidewalk, but instead set on the wall of the Kodak Theater, belongs to boxing champion, Muhammad Ali. The heavyweight hero requested this for religious reasons – he did not want the name Muhammad to be trampled over. With him included, a total of over 2,700 names form this legendary roll call, with many more to come.

Interested in seeing the star-studded strip for yourself? Plan a stay at one of the best hotels near the Hollywood Bowl, the Port of Los Angeles or the city’s International Airport, bookable on Culture Trip.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.