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16980 Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades,
California
Bernheimer Residence and Gardens
 In 1924 Adolph Bernheimer leased the Pacific Palisades location,
which was being used as a mule camp in the construction of highways.
Adolph supervised every detail of building the complex of oriental
structures as his personal residence. It housed his ancient oriental
collection. It also was a horticultural showplace. The Bernheimer
Gardens flourished as a tourist attraction until 1941, averaging 5,000
visitors a week. World War II was a factor in its fall from grace
--
because it was oriental and because Adolph Bernheimer was of German
origin. This triggered contempt and led to vandalism. Adolph's passing in
1944, financial difficulties and land erosion, caused the Oriental
Gardens to slip into a state of disrepair. The property was vacated in
the late 1940s and the treasures were sold at auction in 1951. All of
the structures were demolished in the early 1950s. An apartment complex
was built at the West End of the property and the rest of the property is still vacant
land. The above map is from a Bernheimer Oriental Gardens brochure (see
full brochure below).
Thanks to Mary Louise for providing this history; various sources used.
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Bernheimer
Residence
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Santa Monica Bay |
Bernheimer
Residence
Pacific Palisades
Santa Monica Bay
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Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades
California
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Roosevelt Highway
and Beach from the
Oriental Gardens
Santa Monica, Cal. |
Bernheimer's
Chinese Gardens
Pacific Palisades
Santa Monica, California
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Miniature Japanese
Gardens
Bernheimer Home
Los Angeles, California
circa 1935
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Bernheimer
Japanese Garden
Temple of Heaven
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Bernheimer
Japanese Garden
Temple of Heaven
Pacific Palisades, CA |
Chinese Gardens
Beverly Hills
California
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Bernheimer's Residence
and Chinese Gardens
Pacific Palisades
Santa Monica, CA
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Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA |
Bernheimer
Residence
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Bernheimer
Residence
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Japanese Garden
Bernheimer Residence
Sacred Ox and Minister
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Bernheimer
Chinese Gardens
Santa Monica, California
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Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA |
Bernheimer Residence
Miniature Pools
and Bronzes
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA |
Bernheimer
Japanese Garden
Battle for Castle
Pacific Palisades, CA |
Bernheimer
Japanese Garden
Battle for Castle
of Nagoya
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Miniatures
Bernheimer Gardens
Palisades
Santa Monica, California
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Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
16980 Sunset Blvd
Pacific Palisades, CA
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Sacred Bridge and
Pagoda of Nara
Bernheimer Oriental
Gardens |
Garden Scene
Bernheimer Home
Santa Monica, California
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Temple Town of Nikko
Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
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Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens
Shinto Temple
Pacific Palisades, CA |
Temple Town of Heaven
at Peiping
Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
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Bernheimer Residence
The Missionary
Pacific Palisades
California
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Ten-Jin
Bernheimer Oriental
Gardens
Pacific Palisades
California
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Australian Black Swans
Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens |
Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades
California
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Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens
Group of
Elephants
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Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades
California
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Bernheimer
Sunken Gardens
Waterfall |
Beautiful Waterfall
Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens |
Water Falls
Beautiful Bernheimer
Garden
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Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens
Waterfall
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Bernheimer Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, Brochure
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Hollywood, California
Bernheimer Residence and Gardens
Conceived in 1911 and completed in 1914, the
Bernheimer brothers, Charles Bernheimer and Adolph Bernheimer, built a
10-room mansion 250 feet above Hollywood Boulevard. It was an exact
replica of a palace located in the Yamashiro mountains near Kyoto,
Japan. It was their personal residence and was built to house the
oriental treasures they collected in their travels that began in the
19th century. The mansion became a gathering place for movie stars and
celebrities of the time. Charles Bernheimer passed away in 1922 and much
of the collection was sold at auction. In the early 1940s it was
vandalized by anti-Japanese patriots. It was converted to apartments and
fell into a state of total disrepair. It was purchased in 1948 by Thomas
O. Glover who intended to demolish it, but he discovered the treasures
under layers of paint and decided to restore it instead. Restoration
continues today and its magnificence lives and thrives as the Yamashiro
Restaurant. The address is 1999 N. Sycamore, Hollywood, CA.
A very special
thanks to Mary Louise for providing this history; various sources
used, including history by Thomas Y. Glover on
Yamashiro Website.
The following old postcards,
article and other items provide a great visual look back at the
Bernheimer's Garden and Residence history.
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Airplane View
Japanese Garden
Hollywood, CA
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Bernheimer Residence
seen on hill
Hollywood, CA
mailed 1918
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Bernheimer Hills
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, CA |
Bernheimer Residence
Hollywood, CA |
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, CA
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Bernheimer Brothers'
Japanese Bungalow
Hollywood, CA
circa 1915
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Bernheimer Hill
Hollywood, Cal |
Bernheimer Residence
Hollywood
California |
Residence
Bernheimer Hill
Hollywood, Cal. |
Japanese Mansion
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, Calif.
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A Hollywood Home
Los Angeles, California
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Bernheimer Residence
Hollywood, Calif.
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Bernheimer Residence
Hollywood, CA. |
The Patio
Bernheimer Residence
Hollywood, CA |
Interior Patio
Japanese Bungalow
Hollywood, CA
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Interior
Bernheimer Home
Hollywood, CA
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Bernheimer Home
Hollywood, Cal. |
Japanese Miniature
Village
Japanese Gardens
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Australian Black Swans
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, CA
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Lotus Lilly Pond
Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens |
Bernheimer
Ancient Sacred Ox
Hollywood, CA
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Overlooking Hollywood
Bernheimer Gardens
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Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, Cal.
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Bernheimer Gardens
overlooking
Hollywood, CA
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Hollywood from
Japanese Gardens
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Hollywood from
Bernheimer's Gardens
Hollywood, Calif. |
Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, Cal.
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A Glimpse of
Hollywood, CA
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Japanese Pagoda
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, CA |
Japanese Pagoda
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, CA |
View of Hollywood
from
Bernheimer Gardens |
Japanese Garden
Bernheimer Hill
Hollywood, Cal
mailed 1921
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Japanese House
and Garden
Hollywood, California
Country Life article 1922
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"This view is of the rear
taken before practically
any planting was done." |
"The walls are of
Redwood and Cedar.."
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"A summer house
on one of the terraces..." |
"Pagodas, summerhouses,
and one glass enclosed
shrine, were brought from
Japan in their entirety."
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Bernheimer House
and Garden
Hollywood, California
article 1922
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