Santa Monica Pier

The story

The Santa Monica Pier stretches out into the Pacific at the corner of Ocean and Colorado, and the Pier's own site calls it one of the most photographed locations in the world.¹ People gather here to enjoy local culture and to connect with the Pier's long history.¹

A walk along the deck pairs ocean views with the sound of crashing waves and a salty sea breeze.¹ Whether you're after a romantic stroll or a day out with friends, the Pier's site invites you to stop, take a breath, and soak up an atmosphere it says only the Santa Monica Pier can provide.¹

History

Over the years, Santa Monica has been home to a number of piers, and the one visitors know today is really a pair of connected structures that were owned by different parties for much of their history.⁴ The long, narrow Municipal Pier opened on September 9, 1909, mainly to carry sewer pipes beyond the breakers, and it had no amenities at all.⁴ Next to it stands the broad, stubby Pleasure Pier, sometimes called Newcomb Pier, which amusement park trailblazers Charles I D Looff and Arthur Looff constructed in 1916.⁴

Over time the Pleasure Pier gained the Looff Hippodrome building, the Blue Streak Racer wooden roller coaster, the Whip, merry-go-rounds, Wurlitzer organs, and a funhouse.⁴ The carousel, PTC #62, was built in 1922 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.⁴ It has 44 hand-carved horses.⁴ Housed within the Hippodrome, it was reconstructed in 1990 and plays music from a calliope.⁴

First welcoming dancers on July 23, 1924, the La Monica Ballroom was the work of architect T S Eslick, who paired a Spanish-style exterior with interiors inspired by the French Renaissance.⁴ The Pleasure Pier thrived in the 1920s but faded during the Great Depression, when most of its amusement facilities were closed and their attractions sold off.⁴ The Newcomb Pier stayed in private hands until the city acquired it in 1974.⁴ During the 1960s and 1970s, various plans proposed removing the pier, including one for an artificial island with a 1,500-room hotel.⁴ Citizens formed a group called Save Santa Monica Bay to preserve the pier, and the city council revoked the order to raze it in 1973.⁴

What to see and do

Rides, shops, entertainers, and food stands all share the deck, so there's plenty to fill a visit.^4,1

• Pacific Park

  Pacific Park, an amusement park for visitors of all ages, sits on the pier and features a Ferris wheel powered by solar panels, its vivid lights visible from far away.⁴

• The carousel

  Housed within the Looff Hippodrome, this carousel showcases wooden horses carved by hand and holds a spot in the National Register of Historic Places.⁴

• The aquarium

  The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, operated by Heal the Bay, is among the pier's attractions.⁴

• Fishing

  The pier's west end is a popular spot for anglers.⁴

• Shopping

  Vendor carts sell unique items such as seashell necklaces, handmade crafts, and beachwear accessories.¹

• Street performers

  You can catch a show from one of the pier's many street performers.¹

• Live events

  The pier serves as a venue for outdoor concerts, movies, and other activities.⁴

Why it matters

The Pier has been here since 1909, and its operator describes a rich and illustrious past as what makes it so enchanting.¹ It began as a public utility serving the city, and it has changed greatly since it was first built.¹ The Pier Corporation notes that it is a National Historic Landmark and calls it a true icon that keeps a sense of nostalgia for earlier days.¹ Its Hippodrome and carousel even served as filming locations for the 1973 film The Sting.⁴

Getting there

You'll find the Santa Monica Pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California, right where Ocean meets Colorado.^4,1 Head for that intersection, and look for the brightly lit Ferris wheel, which can be seen from a distance.⁴