The Keystone Call-Box

Standing before you on this Los Angeles City street is what used to be known as a Keystone Call-Box! While it now houses equipment for the Department of Water and Power that efficiently runs your neighborhood’s street lights, the intricately decorated pedestals and boxes were once used by your Los Angeles City Police and Fire Department for communications systems that linked the community to emergency services.

These devices were first known to be used in the early 1900’s. Firefighters responded to life threatening emergencies with just the pull of a handle. Police officers were able communicate with their station to respond to calls for service and request resources with just one phone call. After the “9-1-1” system was introduced to Los Angeles in the 1960’s, the Fire Department phased out use of the call box by the public. When radios and cell phones became more reliable in the 1990’s, the Police Department decommissioned the call boxes and rendered them extinct.

With the cooperation of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Los Angeles Police Museum has restored and brought back the original colors of these intricate pieces of equipment. These century-old boxes still exist throughout Los Angeles today!

Warning!

Tampering and gaining access inside these boxes poses an electrical danger to you and your love ones that could cause serious injury! These boxes are heavily secured and opening them could cause the response of emergency services.

In addition, Penal Code 591 PC makes it a crime for a person to maliciously disconnect, remove, injure, or obstruct any telephone, cable, or electrical line, which include these boxes. Violation of this law is punishable by up to 3 years in jail.

Please appreciate these relics for what they are and do not attempt to open them.

Thank You!