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Great times never end at L.A.'s own family amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier. Step onto one exciting ride after another. Catch your breath, play a game, show off your skill and collect your prize. Grab a treat then look around...it's the beach, baby, with sun, surf and more fun than you thought possible. And it's all right here!
The Santa Monica Pier debuted on California Admission Day on Sept. 9, 1909, and is credited with assisting in the City of Santa Monica's growth and development. Upon opening, the Pier was an instant success and attracted thousands of visitors by its unique oceanfront views. It also intrigued notable entrepreneurs such as Charles Looff. Looff built Coney Island's first carousel in Brooklyn, New York and saw potential in the Santa Monica Pier to become a landmark attraction. As a result, he began construction of his own pleasure pier in 1916. Upon completion, Looff's Pier featured the monumental Hippodrome building, which housed a succession of vintage merry-go-rounds, Wurlitzer organs, the Blue Streak Racer wooden roller coaster, The Whip, Aerospace thrill rides, and a funhouse. Looff's Pier flourished in the 1920s, and in 1924 the La Monica Ballroom opened to become the site of many first-time national radio and television broadcasts.
In response to the Council's decision, Santa Monica residents joined together to fight for the survival of the Piers. They developed a "Save Our Pier Forever" campaign, which resulted in the City creating the Pier Restoration Corporation to provide Pier management and oversee restoration efforts. Additionally, in 1975, the Hippodrome building and carousel were designated a Los Angeles County historical landmark by the U.S. government. |
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