The Los Angeles Times described it as "the most recognizable city landmark most Americans have never heard of".

[1] It is 1,500 ft (460 m) long and lined with glossy white-glazed tiles that act similarly to a photographic light box and provide visually interesting, distorted reflections of things placed in it.

The distinctive white tiles, which give the tunnel its glow, came from Germany, which caused controversy at the time due to Anti-German sentiment at the onset of World War I.

[1] The tunnel has appeared in many movies, including The Student Nurses (1970), The Terminal Man (1974), The Driver (1978), When a Stranger Calls (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Flashdance (1983), The Terminator (1984), Repo Man (1984), Rocky IV (1985), Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), Sneakers (1992), Deep Cover (1992), Demolition Man (1993), Independence Day (1996), Money Talks (1997), Con Air (1997), Gattaca (1997), Enemy of the State (1998), Kill Bill (2003), Transformers (2007), Kill Speed (2010), Black November (2012), and Knight of Cups (2015).

The 2nd Street tunnel has been featured in music videos such as "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls, "It’s Over Now" by Neve, "We R Who We R" by Kesha, "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi, "Kings and Queens" by Thirty Seconds to Mars, "Grenade" by Bruno Mars, "Sing" by My Chemical Romance, "Protovision" by Kavinsky, "Bet" by Tinashe, "Feel Good" by Gryffin and Illenium featuring Daya, "Narcissist" by Halo Circus, "Please Me" by Bruno Mars and Cardi B, "You Can't Stop The Girl" by Bebe Rexha and "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd.