Bullock's Wilshire Building
Why it's listed
Bullock's Wilshire is a five-story department store at 3050 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, completed in 1928 and designed by architects John and Donald Parkinson. Its buff terra-cotta walls, green copper spandrels, zig-zag copper parapet work and six-story tower with a copper-sheathed extension make it a leading example of Art Deco design. Inside, a cube-styled marble foyer leads to specialty departments, and original artworks include a Fresco-Secco ceiling by Herman Sach in the motor court entrance. John G. Bullock had opened his first store downtown at 7th and Broadway and built this second store some twenty-two years later. It was the first department store of a major merchant placed outside the main downtown district, which helped draw business toward Wilshire. Each department functioned almost as a separate store, allowing a complete outfit to be bought in one place. The exterior remains largely unaltered, and many original interior shops survive.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is the finest and most noteworthy example of Art Deco architecture in the Los Angeles area, in both its interior and exterior. It also marks a shift in retail history, as John G. Bullock was the first merchant to place a major department store outside the downtown business district, helping move commerce toward the Wilshire district.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000685, listed May 25, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3050 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | May 25, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000685 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | John & Donald Parkinson |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; exterior largely unaltered, with some interior rooms altered and remodeled while many departments remain as built. The form marks the property as unoccupied but also describes a continuing store use. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.06108, -118.28842 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000685.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4996997
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.