The Hollywood Museum
The Hollywood Museum is the official museum of Hollywood, housed in the landmark Max Factor Building on Hollywood Boulevard — a historic Art Deco structure where the legendary make-up artist Max Factor attended to the beauty of Hollywood’s greatest stars. Home to over 10,000 authentic artefacts spanning more than a century of film and television history, the museum is dedicated to preserving and celebrating Hollywood’s unique cultural legacy through costumes, props, scripts, photographs and memorabilia from iconic productions.
At a glance
- Type
- Entertainment history and memorabilia museum
- Period
- Building constructed 1935; museum established 1996 in current location
- Style
- Art Deco (Max Factor Building, 1935)
- Location
- 1660 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA
- Coordinates
- 34.1011° N, 118.3384° W
Overview
The Hollywood Museum occupies the historic Max Factor Building, an Art Deco landmark at the corner of Highland Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard that was built in 1935 as a showroom and salon for the pioneering cosmetics brand. The museum presents four floors of authentic Hollywood memorabilia, with special emphasis on costumes, props and personal effects that connect visitors to beloved films and television series. It is run as the official repository of Hollywood history and is one of the district’s most visited heritage attractions.
History
The Max Factor Building was commissioned in 1935 by Polish-American make-up artist Max Factor Sr., who had transformed his craft from theatrical greasepaint into a global cosmetics industry while serving as personal stylist to stars including Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich and Jean Harlow. The building’s interior featured colour-coordinated make-up rooms — one for blondes, one for brunettes, one for redheads and one for brownettes — that became famous in their own right. After the Factor family sold the business and vacated the premises, the building fell into disuse before being restored and reopened as The Hollywood Museum, a non-profit institution dedicated to the entertainment industry’s heritage.
What you see
Visitors explore four floors of exhibits covering silent film, the Golden Age of Hollywood, television classics and contemporary productions. The ground floor preserves the restored Max Factor salon, complete with original pink marble, mirrored vanities and the colour-coded make-up rooms. Upper floors display iconic costumes including Hannibal Lecter’s cage from The Silence of the Lambs, Marilyn Monroe’s gowns and props from major franchises. A dedicated gallery honours the Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists Guild, celebrating the craftspeople who create Hollywood’s visual magic.
Cultural significance
The Hollywood Museum serves as the primary guardian of Hollywood’s tangible heritage, preserving artefacts that would otherwise be dispersed through private auctions or lost entirely. The Max Factor Building itself is a listed historic landmark, connecting the museum’s collection to the architectural and commercial history of the Hollywood district.
Practical information
- Address
- 1660 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA
- Hours
- Wednesday–Sunday 10:00–17:00; check official website for current admission prices and closures.
- Website
- thehollywoodmuseum.com
Getting there
The museum is a two-minute walk from the Hollywood/Highland station on the Metro B (Red) Line, which connects to downtown Los Angeles in approximately twenty minutes. It is directly opposite the Dolby Theatre and adjacent to the Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex. Street parking and garage parking are available nearby on Highland Avenue.