Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome facts for kids
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Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 276 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | Looff, Charles & Arthur |
| Architectural style | Mixture of Byzantine, Moorish, and Californian |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000766 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 27, 1987 |
| Designated NHL | February 27, 1987 |
The Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome is a super cool building right on the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. It's famous for its amazing carousel! This special building was designed and built in 1916 by Charles I. D. Looff and his son Arthur. They wanted a perfect home for their beautiful carousel.
The original Looff carousel was here until 1939. Then, a different carousel, called Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #62, took its place. This building is one of the few old structures left from the pier's early amusement park days. You might even recognize it from the 1973 movie, The Sting! Since 1977, the city has owned the carousel. It was carefully fixed up between 1977 and 1981. Because it's so important, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
Contents
History of the Hippodrome
Early Days: The Looff Family's Vision (1910s–1930s)
The Looff Hippodrome first opened its doors on June 12, 1916. It was a big part of Charles Looff's new amusement park. This park was called "Pleasure Pier." It was on a wide pier right next to the longer, main Santa Monica Pier.
Newcomb Takes Over: A Carousel's New Home (1940s–1960s)
After World War II ended, the amusement business was booming. People were excited and proud, and they wanted to have fun. Walter Newcomb saw a great chance. Another pier, the Venice Pier, had closed, so he had less competition. He decided to move his own carousel from Venice into the old Looff Hippodrome. This gave the historic building a new life with a different, but equally wonderful, carousel.
Saving the Pier: Storms and Restoration (1970s–1990s)
For many years, there were plans to tear down the Newcomb Pier and the Hippodrome. The city council even thought about replacing the pier with a resort island. But local groups, like "Save Santa Monica Bay," fought against these plans. In 1973, the city officially stopped the order to demolish the pier. The city then took ownership of the pier in the summer of 1974.
The pier faced more danger in the 1980s when big winter storms almost destroyed it. To help save it, the city created a special group in 1983. This group, now called the Pier Restoration Corporation, worked to bring the pier back to its former glory. In 1989, they decided to make the pier a lively place all year round. They wanted it to have rides, shops, restaurants, and entertainment, just like it was in the 1920s and 1930s. The Hippodrome was carefully restored, and the carousel inside was rebuilt. Today, the 2-acre (0.81 ha) Pacific Park opened in 1996. It is a full-scale family amusement park that continues the pier's fun traditions.
