Bernheimer Residence and Gardens

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