The Hollywood Sign has stood on Mount Lee since 1923, originally built as an advertisement for a housing development called "Hollywoodland." The letters are 45 feet tall. Don't try hiking directly to the sign — it's illegal and the terrain is rough. The best views are from the Griffith Park Observatory (free, plus you get the whole LA panorama), the Hollywood & Highland shopping complex (designed with a sight line to the sign), and Beachwood Canyon Drive. From the park, the Charlie Turner Trailhead offers a legal hiking route with good sign views.
Hollywood Sign
Iconic 1923 hillside letters, best viewed from Griffith Observatory