01: Little Tokyo Tunnel

The 2nd Street Tunnel in Downtown Los Angeles is one of the city’s most recognizable passageways, a cinematic icon with its smooth white-tiled walls and dramatic lighting that has appeared in countless films, commercials, and music videos. Completed in 1924, the tunnel was built to connect Figueroa Street to Hill Street, carving a path through Bunker Hill to ease traffic as the city expanded. Just beyond its eastern end lies Little Tokyo, one of L.A.’s most historic and culturally rich neighborhoods, sitting right off Second Street. Today, the tunnel stands not only as a vital piece of infrastructure but also as a symbol of L.A.’s urban evolution—where history, culture, and pop imagery intersect under its glowing arches.