Los Angeles in True Crime: Streets of LA is more than just a backdrop for high-speed chases and gritty crime-solving; it’s a character in itself. Activision meticulously recreated a sprawling 240 square miles of the city, inviting players to become virtual tourists amidst the action. While the game’s narrative may have its critics, the accuracy and detail of its Los Angeles environment are undeniable highlights. For those who appreciate virtual sightseeing, True Crime offers a unique opportunity to explore digital renditions of famous landmarks, including the iconic Santa Monica Pier, and discover the true crime streets of LA.
This guide, inspired by the original sightseeing FAQ, will take you on a journey through the digital streets of Los Angeles, focusing on key landmarks and points of interest. We’ll navigate from the bustling Downtown area to the sunny beach areas, with a special spotlight on the True Crime Streets Of La Santa Monica Pier and its surrounding attractions within the game. Whether you’re a seasoned player revisiting Los Angeles or a newcomer eager to explore, this guide will enhance your experience of True Crime’s virtual world.
Downtown Los Angeles Landmarks
Our exploration begins in Downtown LA, the heart of the city, and easily accessible starting from the EOD headquarters in the game.
Staples Center
1111 S Figueroa St
Easily spotted between Venice Blvd and 11th Street, the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) is a prominent landmark even in the digital world of True Crime. Home to the Lakers and other major sports teams, its inclusion highlights the game’s commitment to recreating recognizable LA locations.
Theaters on Broadway
Broadway between 8th and Olympic
Heading north on Figueroa and turning onto Broadway unveils a series of historic theaters, remnants of LA’s golden age of cinema. Keep an eye out for:
- United Artists Theater (933 S Broadway): Distinguished by its aqua-blue marquee and black doors.
- Orpheum Theater (842 S Broadway): Recognizable by yellow and black striped pillars and a vibrant green, white, and red marquee.
- Tower Theater (802 S Broadway): Located on the southeast corner of 8th and Broadway.
Millennium Biltmore Hotel
5th and Olive
A short detour west on 8th Street leads to the opulent Millennium Biltmore Hotel, LA’s answer to the Waldorf Astoria. Its grand archway entrance and pillars are hard to miss.
Pershing Square
5th – 6th, Olive – Hill
Across from the Biltmore, Pershing Square offers a contrast with its more modern, artsy structures, including a distinctive purple tower.
Westin Bonaventure Hotel
404 S Figueroa St
Continuing west on 5th to Figueroa, the Westin Bonaventure Hotel stands tall with its cylindrical glass towers, a building familiar from movies like “Gotcha!”.
City Hall
200 N Spring St
North on Figueroa and east on 4th leads to City Hall, a frequent backdrop in Los Angeles-based films, including “L.A. Confidential.” Its tall, phallic structure is best viewed from Hill Street.
Union Station
800 N Alameda St
Venturing further north and east, Union Station appears as a Spanish-style building with a clock tower, located just north of Arcadia Street and Alameda.
Chinatown
Broadway between College and Bernard
North of Union Station, Chinatown is marked by its iconic red arches along Broadway and Bernard Street, offering a culturally rich digital environment.
Pagoda Restaurant
NW corner of Broadway and Bernard
At the corner of Broadway and Bernard in Chinatown, the Pagoda Restaurant, though possibly fictional, adds to the area’s unique visual appeal.
Hancock Park and Central Hollywood Landmarks
Moving westwards, we explore Hancock Park and Central Hollywood, areas rich in cultural and entertainment landmarks.
Wiltern Theater
3790 Wilshire Blvd
Located at the corner of Wilshire and Western, the Wiltern Theater stands out with its distinctive marquee.
Wilshire Country Club
5900 block of Beverly Blvd
West on Wilshire and north on Rossmore brings you to the expansive Wilshire Country Club, a vast green space contrasting with the urban landscape.
La Brea Tarpits
5801 Wilshire Blvd
Further west on Wilshire, the La Brea Tarpits are represented as a fenced park between Curson and Ogden, a prehistoric anomaly amidst modern LA.
Pan Pacific Park
7600 Beverly Blvd
North of the Tarpits and east on 3rd Street, Pan Pacific Park offers another green respite, this one featuring a curious house within its fenced perimeter.
Melrose Avenue
Melrose Avenue between Highland and La Cienega
North on Fairfax to Melrose Avenue leads to the famed “shopping strip,” though in the game, it features generic buildings rather than accurate storefronts.
Paramount Pictures
5555 Melrose Ave
East of the shopping strip, Paramount Pictures stands as a historic studio lot, recognizable by its iron gates and Spanish-style architecture.
Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd
Adjacent to Paramount, Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery (now Hollywood Forever Cemetery) is a large, tree-filled area with a marble entrance on Bronson, offering a glimpse of headstones along Gower Street.
Hollywood Landmarks
Hollywood, the entertainment capital, is packed with iconic sights, many of which are captured in True Crime.
Capitol Records
1750 N Vine St
North of the cemetery and west on Hollywood to Vine Street reveals the iconic Capitol Records building, a circular landmark instantly recognizable as a symbol of Hollywood.
Walk of Fame
Hollywood Blvd from Vine to Sycamore
South on Vine and right onto Hollywood Boulevard puts you on the Walk of Fame, a sidewalk embedded with stars honoring entertainment legends. Note that the game’s version is not fully up-to-date.
Warner Theater
6423 Hollywood Blvd
West on Hollywood, the Warner Theater (now Hollywood Pacific Theatre) is located at the corner of Hollywood and Cahuenga, rumored to be haunted.
Hollywood & Highland
Hollywood Blvd and Highland Blvd
Further west, Hollywood & Highland (now Ovation Hollywood) is a massive complex, home to the Kodak Theater (now Dolby Theatre), the venue for the Academy Awards.
Highland First National Building
NE corner of Hollywood and Highland
At the corner of Hollywood and Highland, the Highland First National Building stands out with its distinctive tower.
Mann’s Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Blvd
Between Highland and La Brea, Mann’s Chinese Theatre (now TCL Chinese Theatre) is a classic Hollywood landmark, known for its celebrity handprints and footprints.
El Capitan Theatre
6838 Hollywood Blvd
Across from Hollywood & Highland, El Capitan Theatre offers another taste of Hollywood’s grand movie palaces.
Hollywood Sign
Accessible by heading west on Hollywood Blvd, then onto Laurel Canyon and Mount Olympus, the Hollywood Sign appears behind trees on Mount Olympus. Best viewed at night when searchlights illuminate it.
West Hollywood Landmarks
West Hollywood, known for its vibrant nightlife and celebrity culture, also features in the game.
Nightmare on Elm Street House (Generic Representation)
While the actual “Nightmare on Elm Street” house is located off Sunset on Genesee, the game provides a generic representation of the area between Gardner and Fairfax.
Sunset Strip
Sunset Blvd between Crescent Heights and Doheny
The Sunset Strip, known for its entertainment venues, is represented along Sunset Blvd, though the specific clubs and venues are not named in the game.
Sunset Plaza
Sunset Strip between La Cienega and San Vicente
Sunset Plaza, a section of the Strip known for people-watching and celebrity sightings, is represented, particularly the stretch from Alta Loma to Palm.
Pacific Design Center
8687 Melrose Ave
South on Palm to Santa Monica, then west and south on San Vicente leads to the Pacific Design Center, nicknamed “The Blue Whale” for its large blue glass building.
Flynt Publications (Formerly Great Western Savings Building)
Corner of La Cienega and Wilshire
South on San Vicente to La Cienega and Wilshire reveals the former Great Western Savings building, now Flynt Publications, with its cylindrical aquablue glass towers.
Wilshire Theater
8440 Wilshire Blvd
East on Wilshire to Hamilton brings you to the Wilshire Theater (now Saban Theatre), located at the corner.
Beverly Hills Landmarks
Beverly Hills, synonymous with luxury and celebrity homes, is another key area to explore.
Beverly Gardens Park
Santa Monica Blvd between Doheny and Wilshire
West on San Vicente to Santa Monica and west again reveals Beverly Gardens Park, stretching along Santa Monica Blvd.
Beverly Hills City Hall
455 N. Rexford Dr
Located just off Santa Monica and Rexford, Beverly Hills City Hall is best viewed from Crescent Drive.
Will Rogers Park
Beverly Dr north of Sunset
West on Santa Monica and north on Beverly Drive leads to Will Rogers Park, stretching to Benedict Canyon, though represented simply as trees and grass in the game.
Beverly Hills Hotel
9641 Sunset Blvd
At the corner of Sunset and Rodeo, the Beverly Hills Hotel is represented as a large Spanish-style building.
Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive between Santa Monica and Wilshire
South on Rodeo Drive, the famed shopping street is recognizable, though without accurate representations of specific stores.
Los Angeles Country Club
10101 Wilshire Blvd
West on Wilshire past Rodeo Drive, the Los Angeles Country Club is marked by hedges and an entrance leading to buildings, grass, and a parking lot.
Bel Air and Westwood Landmarks
Heading further west, we reach the affluent areas of Bel Air and Westwood.
Westwood Memorial Park
1218 Glendon Ave
West on Wilshire and south on Westwood to Wellworth leads to Westwood Memorial Park, the final resting place of numerous celebrities.
Westwood Dome building
Corner of Westwood and Kincross
North on Westwood to Kincross reveals the Westwood Dome building, a unique structure at the intersection.
UCLA (Barracaded)
405 Hilgard Ave
North on Westwood leads to the barracaded UCLA campus. While inaccessible for exploration, the view along Veteran off Sunset offers a glimpse.
Holiday Inn Brentwood
170 N Church Ln
North of Sunset and west of the 405, the Holiday Inn Brentwood is represented as a large building, similar in shape to Capitol Records.
Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Ave
East on Le Conte, the Geffen Playhouse is tucked between a supermarket and a nudie bar in the game’s rendition.
Westwood Hills Christian Church
10808 Le Conte Ave
Further east on Le Conte, the Westwood Hills Christian Church is located at the corner of Le Conte and Tiverton (Hilgard).
Fox Village Theatre
945 Broxton Ave
West again on Le Conte and south on Westwood to Weyburn reveals the Fox Village Theatre, marked by a tall spire.
Mann’s Bruin Theatre
948 Broxton Ave
Across from the Fox Theatre, Mann’s Bruin Theatre features another distinctive marquee.
Los Angeles National Cemetery
950 S Sepulveda Blvd
West on Weyburn leads to the vast Los Angeles National Cemetery, marked by rows of headstones.
Century City and Culver City Landmarks
Continuing south and east, we explore Century City and Culver City.
Los Angeles Mormon Temple
10777 Santa Monica Blvd
South on Westwood and west on Santa Monica reveals the Los Angeles Mormon Temple, a large, greyish-white building with domes and towers.
Westside Pavilion
Pico Blvd and Westwood Blvd
South on Westwood to Pico brings you to the Westside Pavilion (now defunct in reality), a large structure stretching several blocks east.
Hillcrest Country Club
Pico Blvd east of Avenue of the Stars
East on Pico into Cheviot Hills reveals Hillcrest Country Club, marked by Spanish buildings and a fountain at Avenue of the Stars and Pico.
20th Century Fox Studios
10201 W Pico Blvd
Across from Hillcrest CC, 20th Century Fox Studios is represented, possibly as the empty parking lot behind trees west of Avenue of the Stars.
MGM Studios
10202 Washington Blvd
West on Pico and south on Overland to Washington leads to MGM Studios, identifiable by studio hangar-shaped buildings.
St. Augustine Catholic Church
3850 Jasmine Ave
Across from MGM, at the corner of Washington and Jasmine, St. Augustine Catholic Church is located.
Los Angeles River
Duquesne Ave south of Washington Blvd
East on Washington and south on Duquesne leads across the Los Angeles River, a key geographical feature in the game’s landscape.
Beach Areas: Santa Monica Pier and Marina del Rey
Finally, we arrive at the beach areas, home to the true crime streets of LA Santa Monica Pier and the expansive Marina del Rey.
Fisherman’s Village, Marina del Rey
End of Fiji Way
South on Duquesne and southwest on Culver, then south on Sawtelle and under the 405 to 90 West. Exit 90 at Lincoln and turn south to Fiji Way. Fisherman’s Village is at the end of Fiji Way, marked by glass buildings and restaurants.
Marina del Rey
Accessible by continuing east on Fiji and north on Admiralty, Marina del Rey is the largest man-made marina, featuring numerous sailboats and canals. Explore Admiralty and Via Marina to experience the full scale of the marina.
Ocean Front Walk
West on Via Marina towards the beach leads to Ocean Front Walk, the beachfront pedestrian path stretching north to Pacific Palisades.
Canals in Marina del Rey/Venice
East on Washington from Ocean Front Walk reveals the canals of Venice, accessible from Venice Blvd. Dell Avenue offers a fun, bumpy ride over canal bridges.
Venice Beach
West on Venice Blvd to the beach brings you to Venice Beach, a popular rollerblading spot. While Muscle Beach is missing, the pavement and general layout are accurate, though landmarks are generic.
Santa Monica Airport (Barracaded)
West of Centinella and National
East on Ocean Park from Venice Beach leads to the barracaded Santa Monica Airport. The “Airport” sign is visible on a building along Airport Avenue.
Santa Monica Pier
Colorado & Ocean
From the airport, west on Ocean Park to Main, north to Pico, west again and north on Ocean brings you to the Santa Monica Pier. This iconic landmark is present in the game, named correctly, but unfortunately road-blocked, preventing full interaction. However, excellent views of the true crime streets of LA Santa Monica Pier can be enjoyed from Ocean Front Walk and Seaside Terrace south of the pier, or from Ocean and Broadway north of the sign. The parking lots off PCH also offer beach access and pier views.
3rd Street Promenade
Between Wilshire and Broadway, 2nd to 4th Streets
North on Ocean from the pier and east on Broadway reveals the 3rd Street Promenade, a shopping destination, though unnamed in the game.
Pacific Coast Highway (CA Route 1)
California Incline to Pacific Palisades
North on Ocean and west on California Incline leads to the Pacific Coast Highway, stretching from Pacific Palisades to Santa Monica, offering scenic coastal drives within the game world.
Locations Not Found
The original guide notes several locations that are either not present or are off-map in True Crime: Streets of LA, including Griffith Park and Observatory, Universal Studios, Stimson House, various churches, Olvera Street, Pantages Theatre, El Rey Theater, Getty House, Greystone Park, Beverly Hills Sign, Coldwater Canyon Park, Bel Air Country Club, Villa Aurora, and Manhattan Beach State Pier.
Acknowledgements
This guide is inspired by the original “Sightseeing Guide” by Mike Kimball. Thanks to the original author and to the websites mentioned in the original acknowledgements for providing valuable information and resources on Los Angeles landmarks.
This updated guide aims to enhance your virtual exploration of True Crime: Streets of LA, with a particular focus on the true crime streets of LA Santa Monica Pier and other iconic locations. Enjoy your digital tour of Los Angeles!
