Explore the real places in Los Angeles, California that appear in The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include The Sternwood Mansion, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles Central Library, Hollywood and Vine, Geiger's Rare Books Shop and 9 more.
3765 Altair Avenue, West Hollywood — General Sternwood's estate
Philip Marlowe first encounters the dying General Sternwood in his greenhouse, where orchids grow and the old man sits wrapped in blankets. The General hires Marlowe to handle a blackmail scheme involving his wild daughter Sean. The decaying mansion, filled with old money and older secrets, sets the tone for the entire mystery. Marlowe returns here multiple times as the case spirals into murder and betrayal.
The fictional Sternwood mansion represents the grand estates of West Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills built by Los Angeles' industrial elite in the 1920s-1930s. Many real mansions of this scale and opulence were constructed during this golden age of Los Angeles wealth.
The area remains one of Los Angeles' most exclusive neighborhoods, with similar large estates still commanding multimillion-dollar values. The actual street reflects the wealthy residential character Chandler depicted.
7000 Hollywood Boulevard — Sean Sternwood's residence
Sean Sternwood lives here under the assumed name Shawn Regan. Marlowe visits seeking information about the missing Shawn Regan, the General's friend. The hotel becomes a crucial location where Marlowe encounters various suspects and gathers intelligence about blackmail photographs and the Geiger operation.
The Hollywood Roosevelt opened in 1927 and was a legendary Art Deco hotel where Hollywood's elite conducted business and indulged in affairs. The hotel hosted the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929. It became a hotbed of intrigue and gossip throughout Hollywood's golden age.
The Hollywood Roosevelt remains a functioning luxury hotel and historic landmark, beautifully restored to its 1927 glory. It contains the famous Cinegrill nightclub and Poolside Bar, and visitors can experience the same glamorous atmosphere Chandler evoked.
Visit: Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (hotel)
630 West Fifth Street — Sternwood genealogy research
Marlowe conducts background research on the Sternwood family here, uncovering details about the General's wealth and his family history. The library serves as a place of methodical investigation, where Marlowe gathers the factual foundation for understanding the blackmail scheme.
Los Angeles' Central Library was founded in 1872 and moved to its iconic Beaux-Arts building on Fifth Street in 1926. During Chandler's era in the 1930s, it was a major research hub for Los Angeles residents and detectives alike.
The Central Library is still a fully functioning major public library, beautifully restored in the 1990s after a devastating fire in 1986. The ornate reading rooms and vast collections remain open to the public.
Visit: Los Angeles Central Library (library)
Hollywood Boulevard & Vine Street — Street-level Los Angeles
Marlowe operates throughout the Hollywood Boulevard corridor, following leads and surveillance. The intersection and surrounding area represent the visible, commercial heart of Hollywood where detectives work the streets, where taxi drivers gossip, and where Marlowe conducts surveillance on suspects.
Hollywood and Vine became a major intersection during the 1920s-1930s as the entertainment industry boomed. It was the commercial and social nexus of Hollywood, where studios, restaurants, and shops catered to the industry's players.
Hollywood and Vine remains a commercial hub, though much changed from its golden age. Historic buildings from the 1920s-1930s stand alongside modern developments, including the Hollywood and Vine subway station.
Visit: Hollywood and Vine Historic District (landmark)
Hollywood Boulevard — The blackmail operation's front
Arthur Geiger runs a blackmail and pornography operation from his front as a rare books dealer. Marlowe stakes out the shop and discovers the scheme to extort the Sternwood family using compromising photographs of Sean. The shop is where the violence erupts when Sternwood's chauffeur is found dead. Geiger's death here is the first major murder of the case.
Small bookshops and antiquarian dealers lined Hollywood Boulevard during the 1930s as part of the area's cultural infrastructure. Rare books dealing was a legitimate business that attracted cultured collectors and, occasionally, criminals who used it as a front.
The area is now dominated by modern retail and chain businesses. No rare bookshop of historical note remains at this location on Hollywood Boulevard.
Las Palmas Avenue — The corrupt ex-cop's hideout
Carol Lundgren's ex-lover, Joe Brody, lives here as a small-time crook and ex-convict. Marlowe tracks him down seeking information about the blackmail scheme. Brody is caught between the dangerous criminals and Marlowe's investigation, eventually becoming a victim of the violence that surrounds the case.
Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood was home to modest apartment buildings housing the lower-income residents and transient population of 1930s Hollywood, including ex-cons and small-time criminals.
The area remains residential with mid-rise apartment buildings from various eras. It reflects the demographic changes of Hollywood over the decades.
9641 Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills — Eddie Mars' territory
Marlowe conducts surveillance and business in Beverly Hills, the territory of the criminal underworld figure Eddie Mars. The area represents the boundary between old money (the Sternwoods) and criminal wealth. Mars' operations extend throughout Beverly Hills, where he runs gambling rackets and blackmail schemes.
The Beverly Hills Hotel opened in 1941, but the area itself became Los Angeles' most prestigious address beginning in the 1920s. By Chandler's time, Beverly Hills represented the pinnacle of wealth and where legitimate society overlapped with criminal enterprise.
The Beverly Hills Hotel remains one of Los Angeles' most iconic luxury hotels, famous for its Polo Lounge restaurant and pink-hued buildings. It is a functioning luxury hotel and dining destination.
Visit: Beverly Hills Hotel (hotel)
Pasadena area — Sean Regan/Sternwood connection
The wealthy Pasadena area represents old Los Angeles money and the social circles where the Sternwoods, Reigns, and other aristocratic families conduct their affairs. Marlowe's investigation takes him into these wealthy enclaves to uncover relationships and secrets among the city's elite families.
Pasadena was Los Angeles' first suburb and became the preferred residence for the city's wealthiest citizens starting in the 1880s. By the 1930s, it was established as a center of old money and civic pride.
Pasadena remains one of Southern California's most affluent communities with beautiful mansions, the Huntington Library, and the Rose Bowl. It continues to be a destination for those seeking cultural institutions and elegant living.
Various locations — The smuggling and escape routes
The harbor and offshore routes represent the escape possibilities for criminals in Los Angeles. Shawn Regan's disappearance involves speculation about his escape to sea. The criminal underworld uses maritime routes for smuggling and evasion. The case ultimately connects to the harbor through the criminal infrastructure running through Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Harbor became a major port in the late 19th century and by the 1930s was a center of both legitimate shipping and bootlegging/smuggling during Prohibition and after. Catalina Island was accessible to Los Angeles' wealthy and criminal elite alike.
Los Angeles Harbor remains one of the world's busiest ports. Catalina Island is a popular tourist destination accessible by ferry, with hiking, beaches, and the historic Avalon town.
Visit: Los Angeles Harbor & Port of Los Angeles (landmark)
Downtown Los Angeles near Spring Street — Underworld hangouts
Downtown Los Angeles restaurants and bars serve as meeting places for criminals, informants, and detectives. Marlowe frequents establishments where he gathers intelligence from bartenders and waiters who know the underworld. These venues represent the visible criminal infrastructure of 1930s Los Angeles.
Downtown Los Angeles in the 1930s contained numerous restaurants, bars, and clubs that catered to various clienteles from society figures to gangsters. The Poodle Dog was a famous French restaurant, while many other establishments served as informal headquarters for criminal operations.
Downtown Los Angeles has been revitalized with galleries, lofts, and restaurants in historic buildings. Some original early 20th-century establishments remain, though the area's character has transformed significantly.
Visit: Downtown Los Angeles Historic District (historic site)
1632 Elsinore Avenue — Scenic overlook and meeting place
Marlowe uses the park as a location for clandestine meetings and surveillance, a classic noir trope. The elevated position allows observation of the city below. The park represents the intersection of beauty and danger in Los Angeles, where criminals and detectives conduct business amid scenic surroundings.
Echo Park Lake, created in 1893, became a popular recreational destination for Los Angeles residents. By the 1930s, it offered scenic vistas over the city and quiet spots for private conversation away from downtown crowds.
Echo Park remains a functioning public park with the lake, lotus flowers, and scenic paths. It's a popular spot for locals and tourists seeking green space and views of the downtown skyline.
Visit: Echo Park (park)
7000 Hollywood Boulevard — Glamour and scandal
The Roosevelt's famous pool becomes a setting where Hollywood society mingled and scandals unfolded. This represents the glittering world where the Sternwoods' scandal plays out amid Hollywood's glamorous elite. The pool's opulence contrasts with the criminal violence surrounding the case.
The Hollywood Roosevelt's pool became legendary in the 1930s-1940s as a gathering place for movie stars, producers, and Hollywood's gilded class. The Cinegrill and poolside bar were centers of Hollywood nightlife and intrigue.
The Roosevelt's poolside remains a functioning bar and lounge area within the historic hotel, accessible to hotel guests and restaurant patrons. The pool itself is primarily for hotel guests but the area maintains its glamorous vintage character.
Visit: Hollywood Roosevelt Poolside Bar (restaurant)
317 South Broadway, Downtown — Working-class Los Angeles
Marlowe moves through downtown Los Angeles' working-class areas to track suspects and gather street-level intelligence. The market district represents the contrast between wealthy Sternwood circles and the rough streets where violence and crime occur. Here Marlowe encounters minor criminals and informants.
Grand Central Market opened in 1917 as an indoor public market in downtown Los Angeles. By the 1930s, it was a crucial hub for the city's diverse working-class populations and a center of street-level commerce and information exchange.
Grand Central Market continues operating as a historic public market with food stalls, restaurants, and shops. It's a fully accessible tourist destination and local landmark that maintains its early 20th-century character.
Visit: Grand Central Market (historic site)
Mulholland Drive, Hollywood Hills — Observation and murder scenes
Marlowe uses the mountain overlooks to surveil suspects and meet informants. The winding roads through the hills become scenes of violence and danger. The elevated position over Los Angeles mirrors the Sternwoods' position above ordinary society, while the danger lurking on these roads reflects the violence inherent in the case.
Mulholland Drive was completed in 1924 and became famous for its scenic views over Los Angeles. By the 1930s, it was both a tourist attraction and a notorious spot for late-night assignations, murders, and criminal activity.
Mulholland Drive remains a famous scenic drive offering panoramic views of Los Angeles. It's a popular hiking destination and viewpoint, accessible to the public for views and photography.
Visit: Mulholland Drive Scenic Overlooks (park)
More by Raymond Chandler: All Raymond Chandler books
More novels set in Los Angeles: Browse all Los Angeles books on Map A Story
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