Santa Monica Pier facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Santa Monica Pier

Landmark entrance to the Santa Monica Pier
Type	Amusement Pier
Spans	Pacific Ocean
Locale	Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Opening date	September 9, 1909
Coordinates	34°00′31″N 118°29′55″W / 34.00861°N 118.49861°W / 34.00861; -118.49861
Santa Monica Historic Landmark
Designated	August 17, 1976

The Santa Monica Pier is a famous landmark in Santa Monica, California. It is a large pier that stretches out into the Pacific Ocean. The pier is a popular spot for fun and relaxation. It has an amusement park, places to eat, and great views of the ocean. You can also go fishing here!

Fun Things to Do at the Pier

Pacific Park: Rides and Games

The pier is home to Pacific Park, a lively amusement park. It has many rides for families to enjoy. A special feature is its Ferris wheel, which is powered by solar panels. This means it uses energy from the sun! The Ferris wheel lights up brightly at night. You can see it from far away. Sometimes, the lights are turned off for Earth Hour. This event helps people think about saving energy.

More Exciting Attractions

The pier offers even more fun. There is an old carousel building from the 1920s. It is called the Hippodrome. You can also visit the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. This aquarium is run by a group called Heal the Bay. They work to protect the ocean.

Other attractions include shops where you can buy souvenirs. There are also street performers who entertain visitors. If you like games, there is a video arcade. You can even learn to fly at a trapeze school! The pier also has places to eat and drink. The very end of the pier is a favorite spot for anglers to cast their lines. The pier also hosts outdoor concerts and movies.

History of the Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica area has had several piers over the years. The pier you see today is actually made of two piers joined together. For a long time, these two parts had different owners.

The Municipal Pier: Built for Pipes

The first part, the Municipal Pier, opened on September 9, 1909. It was long and narrow. Its main purpose was to carry sewer pipes far out into the ocean. This helped keep the beach clean. At first, this pier did not have any fun things for people to do.

Newcomb Pier: A Place for Fun

The second part, called the Pleasure Pier or Newcomb Pier, was built in 1916. It was shorter and wider. It was built by Charles I. D. Looff and his son Arthur. They were famous for creating amusement parks. This pier was designed for entertainment.

Early Attractions on the Pleasure Pier

The Pleasure Pier soon became a hub of excitement. It had the Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome building. This building still stands today and holds the famous carousel. It is even listed as a historic place! There was also a wooden roller coaster called the Blue Streak Racer. Other rides included the Whip and merry-go-rounds. The pier also had funhouses and music from Wurlitzer organs.

The Famous Carousel

The beautiful Carousel, known as PTC #62, was built in 1922. It has 44 horses that were carved by hand. The carousel was rebuilt in 1990 inside the Hippodrome. A special musical instrument called a calliope plays music for the riders.

The La Monica Ballroom

A huge dance hall called the La Monica Ballroom opened on July 23, 1924. It was designed to look like a Spanish building on the outside. Inside, it had a fancy French Renaissance style. It was the biggest dance hall on the west coast. Up to 5,000 dancers could fit on its large wooden floor. For a while, it was even a roller skating rink. The La Monica Ballroom was taken down in 1963.

Challenges and Changes

The Pleasure Pier was very popular in the 1920s. But things changed during the Great Depression. Many of the amusement park rides closed down. They were sold off. In 1934, a wall was built in the ocean near the pier. This wall, called a breakwater, created a safe place for up to 100 fishing and pleasure boats.

In 1938, a new bridge and entry gate were built for the pier. This project was done by the federal Works Progress Administration. It replaced the old way to get onto the pier.

Saving the Pier

The Newcomb Pier was privately owned until 1974. That's when the city bought it. In the 1960s and 1970s, there were ideas to remove the pier. One big plan was to build an artificial island with a huge hotel. The city council approved this idea. But citizens formed a group called "Save Santa Monica Bay." They wanted to protect the pier. In 1973, the city council changed its mind and decided not to tear down the pier. That same year, the Carousel and Hippodrome were used as sets for the movie The Sting.

Storm Damage and Repairs

In 1982, strong storms washed away the protective breakwater. Then, in early 1983, even bigger storms hit the pier hard. On January 27, waves as high as 10 feet crashed into the pier. The lower deck of the pier was destroyed. The city started repairs on March 1, 1983. But another storm arrived! A crane being used for repairs was dragged into the water. It then crashed into the pier's support poles. More than one-third of the pier was destroyed.

Fish Safety Advisory

On June 18, 2009, a health warning was given for fish caught near the pier. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment advised people to be careful. This was because of higher levels of mercury and PCBs found in fish from Santa Monica Pier to Ventura Harbor.

Managing the Pier

After the storm damage, the City of Santa Monica created a non-profit group. It was called the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation (SMPRC). This group helped manage the pier every day. They organized events, filming, and promotions. They also managed the shops and street performers. The SMPRC has put on events like the Santa Monica Pier Paddle Board Race. They also host the Twilight Summer Concert Series. In 2011, the group changed its name to the Santa Monica Pier Corporation (SMPC).

Weather at the Pier

Images for kids

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  Looff Hippodrome on the pier.

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  Santa Monica beach and pier, 2004.

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  Santa Monica Pier, 2006.

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  View of Santa Monica from the pier.

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  Ferris wheel light show at night, 2009.

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  U.S. Route 66 sign on the pier

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  View of the pier in 2021