Peck's Pier and Pavilion facts for kids
Peck's Pier was a wooden pier built in 1908 in Manhattan Beach, California. A pier is like a long walkway built out over the water. This special pier was known for being a fun place for many activities and for its important role in history.
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What Was Peck's Pier?
Peck's Pier was built in 1908 by a man named George H. Peck. He was a wealthy person who bought and sold a lot of land and buildings in the area. The pier was named after him.
The pier was located near 33rd and 34th Street in Manhattan Beach. It was more than just a pier; it also had a building called a pavilion. Together, they were known as Peck's Pier and Pavilion.
A Place for Fun and Community
Peck's Pier and Pavilion was a very popular spot. It was built to attract people to the area and offer them a place to have fun. People could go there for many exciting activities, including:
- Dances
- Parties
- Picnics
- Roller skating
It was a lively center where people could gather and enjoy themselves by the ocean.
A Special Place for Everyone
What made Peck's Pier truly special was that it was the only pier in the area that was open to African Americans. During that time, many places in the United States were segregated. This meant that people of different races were kept separate.
Because of this segregation, African Americans often faced unfair treatment and were not allowed in many public places. Peck's Pier offered a welcoming space where they could enjoy the beach and pier just like anyone else. This made it a very important place for the African American community in Manhattan Beach.
How Peck's Pier Disappeared
Sadly, Peck's Pier did not last forever. There are a couple of ideas about what happened to it.
One idea is that the pier was damaged by a big storm in 1913. The pavilion, which was the building on the pier, was later destroyed in 1920. This was due to "timber rot," which means the wood had decayed and become weak.
Another idea suggests that the pier was torn down because of a mix of storms and "social injustice." Social injustice means unfair treatment of people, often because of their race or background. This unfairness also affected Bruce's Beach, which was a nearby beach resort owned by an African American family. Unfair actions led to Bruce's Beach being shut down and many black residents being forced to leave the area.
Other Piers in Manhattan Beach
Peck's Pier was not the first pier in Manhattan Beach. The town's very first pier was built in 1901. It was called the Center Street pier and was located where the Manhattan Beach Pier stands today. Another wooden pier was also built in 1901 on Marine Avenue.
