Originally built in 1888 to handle the enormous lumber trade from the Pacific Northwest, Redondo’s Wharf 1 was the first of Redondo’s era of piers, wharfs, and harbors. The current seventh generation horseshoe-shaped pier stands 25 feet above the water, spans 70,000 square-feet of open space. and is known as the largest “endless” pier on the California coast. It is also connected to a remnant of the wooden Monstad Pier (Wharf 3) that was built in the 1920s. Today, the Redondo Landing serves as the gateway building to The Pier, Its façade is reminiscent of the Looff Hippodrome, a carousel building that was built on The Pier in the 1920s. Redondo Beach Pier continues to host visitors from around the world and generations of local families who have grown up with regular visits to the Redondo Beach Municipal Pier.
Next time you visit the Pier, look for the Path of History markers or stop by Redondo Landing to learn more about the history of Redondo Beach Pier and the surrounding area.
History of the “Endless Pier”
Original Deep Sea Port of Los Angeles
1889 The Pier was a single wharf at the foot of Emerald Street
Hotel Redondo opened in 1890. Demolished in 1925.
The Redondo Pavilion. Early 1900’s.
Redondo Beach Bath House “The Plunge”. Built in 1909.
Monstad Pier, built 1925-1927. A portion of the original fishing pier still exists today.
Luella James, Miss Redondo 1925
Looff Hippodrome, the landmark carousel building on the Pier built in 1925.
Aerial view of Monstad Pier and Horseshoe Pier. 1940’s
Current seventh generation pier was unveiled in 1995, and incorporates design elements that reflect upon the earlier structures
George Freeth Memorial Terry O’Donnell (1940-2006), Sculptor Originally erected in 1977. Rededicated, 2010.
George Freeth
Introduced Surfing to California
George Freeth was born in Honolulu on November 8, 1883 and revived the lost Polynesian art of surfing. Henry E. Huntington invited Freeth to Redondo Beach in 1907 as an attraction to promote “the largest saltwater plunge in the world” that he was building. Thousands came to Redondo Beach to see “The Man Who Can Walk on Water” mount his 8-foot long, solid wood, 200 pound surf board and ride a wave onto Redondo Beach while standing upright. Freeth also performed daring stunts in The Plunge/Bath House diving pool tower. Freeth founded the life guard association and invented the torpedo shaped rescue buoy.