 |
| Landmark #1018 | Los Angeles County | Visited: August 14, 2011 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A long pier with a unique roundhouse aquarium at the tip! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Designed by City Engineer A.L. Harris, this pier was constructed by the City of Manhattan Beach during the years 1917-1920. The roundhouse building was added a year later. Harris’ innovative design featured a rounded end to the pier, which helped it withstand the pounding of the Pacific. Although the roundhouse was reconstructed in 1989, the pier itself survives as Southern California’s oldest remaining example of early reinforced concrete pier construction.
OTHER TIDBITS: The original Iron Pier was actually destroyed by violent winter storms in 1913 and 1914! The new design was largely motivated by a competitive spirit to outdo the Redondo Beach pier to the south! The roundhouse went through a number of stages, from bait shop to canteen to a number of cafes until finally, it became a marine research center! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
|
| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: West of Manhattan Beach Blvd Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~21mi (34km) — 0.4hrs |
| When should I go? | You can see the exterior any time you wish, but if you want to tour the aquarium, it’s open Monday through Friday from 3:00 PM until sunset, and on weekends from 10:00 AM until sunset, free of charge! |
