Manhattan Beach Pier

Book excerpt: A destination for beachgoers for a century, the Manhattan Beach Pier extends 928 feet out over the Pacific with the octagonal "Roundhouse" situated at the far end. Both the pier and Roundhouse have, through the years, come to symbolize this affluent seaside community. The concept for a pier at its present location can be traced to 1898, when the Potencia Townsite Company acquired the land. The first survey map, recorded in 1902, clearly labeled the object at the end of Center Street (now Manhattan Beach Boulevard) as the "Old Iron Pier." The pier has been storm-ravaged, rebuilt, and restored while a century of recreation, world-class sporting events, and celebrity visitors have added to its appeal as one of Los Angeles County's notable coastal attractions.