About this map · 2011–2018
Culture isn’t only in museums — it’s in the streets, on millions of signs, posters and fliers.
We built a database and map of the signs on LA County’s major streets, then pulled out the words that express cultural identity.
Where those signs cluster, they form a place: a cultural hub — far more than are officially designated. This is grassroots cultural placemaking.
LA is remarkable not just for how many cultures it holds, often with several hubs each, but because the hubs overlap. LA has distinctive places that share space.
Built by SLABScott Mahoy, Michael Chiang, Samirita Dabade, Duo Bao, Temi Omotinugbon, Julia Harten, Jonathan Crisman, Matthew Miller, Thu Nguyen, Seongmoon Cho, Clemens Pilgram, Sihan Mao
Special assistanceJan Chantarasompoth, Ayesha Mayagoitia
Financial supportAmerican Council of Learned Societies · USC Provost · USC Price School · USC Lusk Center for Real Estate