Bernheimer Residence and Oriental Japanese Gardens
Pacific Palisades and Hollywood, CA

Bernheimer Residence and Gardens Hollywood, California

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.
 


Airplane View
Japanese Garden
Hollywood, CA
 

Bernheimer Residence
seen on hill
Hollywood, CA
mailed 1918
 

Bernheimer Hills
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, CA

Bernheimer Residence
Hollywood, CA

Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, CA
 

Bernheimer Brothers'
Japanese Bungalow
Hollywood, CA
circa 1915
 

Bernheimer Hill
Hollywood, Cal

Bernheimer Residence
Hollywood
California

A Hollywood Home
Los Angeles, CA
 

Bernheimer Residence
Hollywood, Calif
 

Bernheimer Residence
Hollywood, CA
.
Bernheimer Hill
Residence
Hollywood, CA
 

Interior
Bernheimer Home
Hollywood, CA
 

The Patio
Bernheimer Residence
Hollywood, CA
 

Interior Patio
Japanese Bungalow
Hollywood, CA
 

Japanese Miniature
Village
Japanese Gardens
 

Lotus Lilly Pond
Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens
 

Overlooking Hollywood
Bernheimer Gardens
 

Bernheimer Gardens
overlooking
Hollywood, CA

Hollywood from
Japanese Gardens
 

Hollywood from
Bernheimer's Gardens
Hollywood, Calif.
 

Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, Cal.

Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, Cal.
 

A Glimpse of
Hollywood, CA
 

Australian Black Swans
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, CA
 

Bernheimer
Ancient Sacred Ox
Hollywood, CA
 

 
 

Japanese Garden
Bernheimer Hill
Hollywood, Cal
mailed 1921
 

Japanese Pagoda
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, CA

Japanese Pagoda
Japanese Gardens
Hollywood, CA

View of Hollywood
from
Bernheimer Gardens
 

Japanese House
and Garden
Hollywood, California
Country Life article 1922
 

"This view is of the rear
taken before practically
any planting was done."

"The walls are of
Redwood and Cedar.."
 

"A summer house
on one of the terraces..."

Bernheimer House
and Garden
Hollywood, California
article 1922
 

"Pagodas, summerhouses,
and one glass enclosed
shrine, were brought from
Japan in their entirety."
   


Bernheimer Residence and Gardens 16980 Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades near Santa Monica Bay, California

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.
 


Bernheimer Residence
Pacific Palisades, CA
Santa Monica Bay

Bernheimer Residence
Santa Monica Bay
Pacific Palisades, CA
 

View from
Oriental Gardens
Santa Monica, CA
 

Miniature Japanese
Gardens
Los Angeles, CA

Bernheimer
Japanese Garden
Temple of Heaven
Pacific Palisades, CA

Bernheimer
Japanese Garden
Temple of Heaven
Pacific Palisades, CA
 

Chinese Gardens
Beverly Hills
California
 

Bernheimer's Residence
and Chinese Gardens
Pacific Palisades
Santa Monica, CA
 

Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA

Bernheimer
Residence
Pacific Palisades, CA
 

Bernheimer
Residence
Pacific Palisades, CA
 

Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA
 

Japanese Garden
Bernheimer Residence
Sacred Ox and Minister
 

Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA
 

Bernheimer Residence
Miniature Pools
and Bronzes
Pacific Palisades, CA
 

Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA
 

Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA
 

Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
Pacific Palisades, CA
 

Bernheimer
Japanese Garden
Battle for Castle
of Nagoya
 

Sacred Bridge and
Pagoda of Nara
Bernheimer Oriental
Gardens

Bernheimer
Oriental Gardens
16980 Sunset Blvd
Pacific Palisades, CA

Bernheimer
Japanese Garden
Battle for Castle
Pacific Palisades, CA

Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens
Shinto Temple
Pacific Palisades, CA
 

Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens
Group of Elephants
 

Water Falls
Beautiful Bernheimer
Garden

Bernheimer
Japanese Gardens
Waterfall

Bernheimer
Sunken Gardens
Waterfall
 

Bernheimer Residence
Pacific Palisades
California
The Missionary

Bernheimer Oriental Gardens
Brochure
 


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