Santa Monica Pier is the city’s most recognizable landmark and a living piece of coastal history.
Opened on September 9, 1909, the original Santa Monica Municipal Pier was never intended to be a public attraction. It was a utilitarian project, built to carry treated sewage beyond the breakers and out into the ocean. Stretching roughly 1,600 feet into the Pacific, the concrete structure quickly became an unexpected gathering place. Locals were drawn to its ocean views, fresh air, and simple pleasures like walking and fishing.
The pier’s transformation into an entertainment destination began in 1916, when amusement pioneer Charles I.D. Looff constructed an adjacent “Pleasure Pier.” This new addition introduced southern Californians to a world of seaside amusements—roller coasters, games, dining, and most notably, the Looff Hippodrome. That historic building still stands today and houses the beautifully restored 1922 carousel, featuring hand-carved horses and a classic calliope soundtrack.
During the 1920s, the pier flourished as a vibrant escape from inland life. Before air conditioning and television, pleasure piers were a major form of entertainment, offering music, dancing, and ocean breezes. The addition of the La Monica Ballroom in 1924 — once the largest dance hall on the West Coast — cemented the pier’s reputation as a cultural hotspot.
Like much of the country, the pier struggled through the Great Depression. Attractions closed, businesses failed, and the area took on a grittier edge. In the 1930s, offshore gambling ships anchored just beyond legal waters added a layer of intrigue, with water taxis ferrying visitors from the pier to floating casinos.
By the mid-20th century, the pier faced steady decline. The demolition of the La Monica Ballroom in the 1960s marked a turning point, and by the early 1970s, city officials voted to tear the entire structure down. What followed became one of Santa Monica’s most defining civic moments. Residents rallied to save the pier, launching a grassroots preservation movement that ultimately reversed the decision and reshaped local attitudes toward historic conservation.
The pier’s revival began a decade later after severe storm damage nearly destroyed it. Extensive repairs and reinvestment paved the way for a new era, highlighted by the 1996 opening of Pacific Park. Its solar-powered Ferris wheel is now an international symbol of Santa Monica.
Now designated as a National Historic Landmark, the Santa Monica Pier welcomes millions of visitors each year. It remains one of the last great pleasure piers on the West Coast. Street performers, fishermen, families, and tourists all share the same space, drawn by the same simple appeal that first attracted visitors over a century ago.
Santa Monica Pier on Television
The Santa Monica Pier is one of the most-filmed locations in Los Angeles and has been featured prominently in countless television shows, including:
Three’s Company
The iconic opening credits were filmed in and around the pier and Ocean Front Walk.
Modern Family
The pier appears multiple episodes including “Leap Day” (Season 3) where the family attempts to learn the trapeze.
The Kardashians
A 2022 episode features Scott Disick and North West visiting Pacific Park.
Santa Monica Pier in Movies
The Santa Monica Pier had a starring role in many Hollywood classics, including:
Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest ends his cross-country run at the pier.
The Sting (1973)
The pier’s historic Looff Hippodrome served as the residence and workplace of Paul Newman’s con-man character.
Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)
The amusement park rides on the pier are the backdrop for Lilly’s birthday party.
Santa Monica Pier in Music
Dozens of music videos have been filmed on and around the pier, including:
“Undecided” (2019)
Chris Brown sneaks into Pacific Park after hours and dances in an alternate world on the pier.
“Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” (1994)
Selena sings and dances on the pier in this music video filmed a year before her death.
“Clarity” (2003)
John Mayer walks along the pier while pondering time and love.
SEE ALSO:
Museum of Flying
More Santa Monica attractions
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