The Redondo Beach pier is located in
Redondo Beach, California and stretches out into the
Pacific Ocean. The
pier has been rebuilt and altered by
storms and
redevelopments. Its official name is "Municipal Pier," and it has also been called the "Endless Pier".
The unusually shaped pier looking northwestRedondo Beach pier looking south
The pier started out as a disjointed group of
wharves near the end of the 19th century but evolved into an interconnected structure after a series of storms and demolitions throughout the 20th century. The
pier area used to be heavily crowded with tourists and locals during the 1970s, but began to decline after the nearby Seaport Village project failed and went into
bankruptcy in 1982.
In 1988, the pier was severely battered by two winter storms, and on May 27 it burned to the waterline due to an electrical short circuit (the
fire was so large that a
SigAlert was announced for the
San Diego Freeway several miles away). The pier's modern
reinforced concrete version was completed in 1995 and has brought back the appeal to Redondo Beach's business district ever since.
History
1800s
1889–1915, iron and wood "Wharf No. 1" built approximately where the current pier stands near Emerald Street to facilitate timber delivery from ships to trains; destroyed by a storm
1895–1920, Y-shaped wooden pier called "Wharf No. 2" with railroad tracks on one prong, the other for fishermen and tourists; built south of Wharf #1 near Ainsworth Court in front of the
Hotel Redondo; severely damaged by a storm in 1919, subsequently open only to fishermen, but demolished for safety reasons
Early 1900s
View of Redondo Beach Pier and railroad station from the Redondo Hotel, ca.1900
1903–1926, wooden "Wharf No. 3" built south of Wharf #2 near Sapphire and Topaz Streets; actively used by lumber industry until 1923 when Pacific Electric's lease expired, which was not renewed, and the pier was manually demolished after a few years as the lumber industry phased out
1916–1928, reinforced concrete "Endless/Pleasure Pier" built by
George W. Harding; its 450-foot (140 m) long northern leg stood in the spot previously occupied by Wharf #1, with a 160x200-foot platform at its western terminus, with another 450-foot (140 m) southern leg returning to the shore to form an overall V-shape; damaged by a 1919 storm; condemned for safety reasons in 1928
1925–today, wooden "Monstad Pier" built by
Captain Hans C. Monstad for fishing/pleasure boat landings; originally 300 feet (91 m) long, extended to 400 feet (120 m) in 1937, and 50 feet (15 m) wide in 1938
1929–1988, wooden "Horseshoe Pier" built after demolition of the Endless/Pleasure Pier; destroyed by a fire
Late 1900s
In 1983, the western end of the Monstad Pier was connected to the central platform of the Horseshoe Pier.
From 1988–1995, the southern Y-shaped remnant of the Horseshoe pier that survived the fire remained open to the public. A smaller portion of the northern end remained closed to the public for safety reasons, and was eventually removed completely when the new, concrete version was built.
The City of Redondo Beach hosted a formal "Launching" ceremony to announce the pier's reconstruction on July 29, 1993. The 1993 plans initially allowed for a
carousel,
wax museum,
aquarium, and at least three new restaurants; however, only one new restaurant was added to the deck, and the rest has remained open to pedestrian traffic.
A formal City of Redondo Beach ceremony opened the new-restored Redondo Beach Pier, on February 11, 1995. Dogs are not allowed on the pier.[1]
1995 description
1993 municipal pier reconstruction perspective drawing by the City of Redondo Beach, California Engineering Department
The following "Pier Facts" were listed in the February 11, 1995, souvenir brochures distributed at the Redondo Beach ceremony opened the new-restored Redondo Beach Pier:
The Redondo Beach Pier is 70,000 square feet (6,500 m2) in size
Sits 25 feet (7.6 m) above the water
Has over 3,000 cubic yards (2,300 m3) of 6,000 P.S.I. concrete decking
Has 202 concrete piles, the longest being 120 feet (37 m) in length
Required 5 years to commence construction and 18 months to complete