StoryCorps Rolls Through and Lives On

West Hollywood’s Voices on Wheels: StoryCorps Rolls Through and Lives On

For one magical week, West Hollywood’s Crescent Heights Lot became the most meaningful stop on the map for storytellers, dreamers, and longtime locals. The silver Airstream that pulled in wasn’t just any trailer, it was StoryCorps’ legendary Mobile Recording Booth, a traveling recording booth on wheels where voices become history.

As a capstone project to wrap up yearlong celebrations for the City’s 40th anniversary, the Airstream served as a rolling time capsule to capture the heart and soul of West Hollywood one conversation at a time. Forty pairs of friends, neighbors, partners, and family members stepped inside to share stories of courage, creativity, and community: the kinds of stories that built this famously bold city. Each intimate 40-minute conversation was recorded by a StoryCorps facilitator and will live on in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, ensuring that West Hollywood’s collective story echoes far beyond its 1.9 square miles and far into the future.

“This is an extraordinary moment for West Hollywood,” said Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers. “Our city has always been defined by the power of personal stories — of courage, activism, and love. The StoryCorps project lifts those voices and preserves the diverse experiences that make our community so unique.”

The Airstream’s visit drew everyone from founding residents to fresh new arrivals, from LGBTQ+ pioneers and artists to Russian-speaking neighbors and City staff. And though the Airstream has now rolled on to its next stop, the storytelling isn’t over, it’s just gone virtual.

Through the StoryCorps Virtual Recording Booth and the City’s exclusive StoryCorps webpage, anyone can now record and upload their story from anywhere at any time. Every voice becomes part of the official West Hollywood StoryCorps Collection, accessible online to the public and preserved for generations.

In 2026, StoryCorps and the City of West Hollywood will host a community listening event featuring a curated selection of West Hollywood stories and the debut of a fully animated story created from one of the recordings, bringing a WeHo tale to life on-screen.

So whether you’re reminiscing about the early days of West Hollywood’s incorporation, recalling your first Pride Parade, or the daydreaming about that neighborhood café that changed your life, the mic is still open. The next chapter of West Hollywood’s living history is waiting for your voice.

Learn more and share your story. Visit www.weho.org/storycorps for details.