My Neighborhood in Santa Monicaby

Sam Harwood

Since the beginning, Santa Monica has been a very eventful place.Outlook newspaper

Senator John P. JonesThis man, with Colonel Robert Baker purchased land (originally inhabited by Chumash and Gabrielino Indians) from Don Francisco Sepulveda that would become Santa Monica.

Ocean Park Beach in 1910Between 1905 and 1930, the city became a huge attraction to people all over the United States.

Route 66The famous Santa Monica Pier was the end point of Route 66, a widely known highway that began in Chicago in 1926. Thanks to it, many people could reach Santa Monica.

Casa del Mar Beach ClubOriginally built in the mid-1800’s, this landmark hotel was one of the cities largest attractions throughout the 1920’s. Many important people came to stay and it held many grand festivities. It was also used to house Navy soldiers stationed during World War II.

3rd St. Criterion Movie TheaterMost of the people at the Casa del Mar were famous actors and actresses whose film’s were shown at this well known branch of Hollywood’s Chinese Theaters.

Casa del Mar modern dayNow, the Casa del Mar is a city landmark and still one of the most elegant hotels in Santa Monica

Douglas Aircraft Flight Around the WorldOne of the biggest events that occurred in the city was the first flight around the world, flown on a plane made by the local company.

Santa Monica PierOpen in 1909, the pier is one of the defining images of Santa Monica. Movie star Susan Hayworth can be seen here in a publicity shot. This was the first concrete pier on the West Coast, causing thousands of people from all over Southern California to attend its opening. At first it was used as a port for fishermen and sailors…

View from pier facing north.…eventually it was a nation wide attraction.

Muscle BeachRight next to the pier was the location of the original muscle beach, where giant crowds would go watch revered body builders such as Joe Gold of Gold’s gym, the first Mr. California Harold Zinkin and Glen Sunby.

Ocean Park LibraryDesignated a city landmark in 1977, this library is a Carnegie library . It was built in 1918 on land donated by the Tegner family. Here we see its interior in 1935.

Ocean Park Library-todayAlmost 90 years later it has maintained its original décor, built in its original Greek Revival style by the architect Frank Kegly.

Fun FactCartoonist E.C. Segar was a regular on the Santa Monica Pier in the 1920’s and 1930’s. His idea for the character of Popeye came from a retired sailor named Olaf C. Olsen he saw there almost daily.

The End