Since the beginning of time...
Local Stories in small towns would pass from one generation to the next. Data was kept in city files as well as in the minds and hearts of locals.
Below, after many discussions with local historians and elder residents, we have compiled and now share actual data and unique photos that we hope entertain as well as educate on the interesting facets of this remarkably small but mighty magical town of Manhattan Beach CA!
As always, if you feel we must add anything to our history page?
Feel free to let our office know as this entire site would mean nothing without our precious loyal residents, businesses and visitors!
Enjoy!
Way Before and today.......
Important Dates in Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California first became an official “Noticed” city in 1912. Prior to that, not many people were interested in living on a gigantic pile of sand that was so remote, many just called it at sandy nuisance.
1901: Did you know Manhattan Beach was originally named "Shore Acres" then it was known as "Potencia" (see why below) till John & Stewart Merrill (brothers) bought and renamed the city "Manhattan Beach" after a posh resort they loved in New York. John Merrill originally had a dream for his new city, to be the hot vacation spot for fun, and for being a popular destination Beach Resort Town to the upper class!
1903 - The Red Car was extended from Playa del Rey to Redondo Beach passing through Manhattan Beach where the ocean front Strand bike path is today. Back then Manhattan Beach was just a little city, a plot of "nothing" to pass by, as visitors main interest was to be in Redondo Beach, as it was the hot destination to visit.
1912: Manhattan Beach became incorporated. By then the 600 proud residents of Manhattan Beach had their own school, water system, grocery store, hotel and dry goods store on a giant wasteland of sand. Historians have written the actual date of incorporation to be December 12, 1912, until author, historian and long time resident of Manhattan Beach, Jan Dennis found paperwork listing the date mistakenly read as December 2, 1912.
1913: Cost of a tiny plot of land here at the beach without a home on it? $200-$350 per plot. Developer George Peck bought the entire North end of Manhattan Beach and traveled up to Pasadena to recruit residents to purchase land down south on beach front property.
1920-1930: Sand was finally moved out of the beach area to level it and make it easier to build and expand a city. (see stories below)
1953: Agriculture Land was changed to residential to accommodate new residents.
After World War I people came to Manhattan Beach to play and stay. And as time went on, residents grew excited to see more and more lights staying on during the winter months here at the beach! People were finally starting to call Manhattan Beach not just their summer residence but their full time home!
What's In a Name?
When Stewart Merrill came to Manhattan Beach in 1891, he wanted to call the massive sandy dune covered hilly terrain, "Manhattan Beach".
For years and years, rumors have stated that the name Manhattan Beach came about from a coin toss where Stewart won the toss declaring the new city name "Manhattan Beach" because it was the name of his hometown in New York.
Oddly enough, Stewart was from Deloitt, Wisconsin.
The name "Manhattan Beach" was actually chosen due to the love Stewart had for an exclusive posh Coney Island Resort in New York called the "Manhattan Beach Resort."
Stewart absolutly loved the affluence this name inspired as he wanted his new Manhattan Beach to be a well known vacation resort town for the upper class.
Over the early years many other states across the USA chose the name “Manhattan Beach” for the same reason.
Can you guess which cities share the name Manhattan Beach? (Keep reading...the cities are all listed below)
The Sand
In the very beginning days (1889-1920) early Manhattan Beach residents loved the ocean, but they disliked the sand. The vast open dunes stretching from LAX to Palos Verdes brought constant complaints from early residents of endless blowing sand that made walkways disappear, stung uncovered faces and even shifted small structures.
To put it mildly, the sand dunes were a major problem. Some days the dunes would blow to be 50 to 70 feet high. They caused so much inconvenience that in order to develop the land close to the water, the city had to remove insane amounts of sand. But move it....? Where?
In the late 1920s, developers from Hawaii agreed to purchase Manhattan Beach sand so they could convert their rough reef and rocky painful-to-the-feet beach to a fluffy cushy sand beach that visitors could enjoy comfortably.
For 10 years, Manhattan Beach sand was loaded onto Santa Fe Railroad cars and taken to the harbor in San Pedro and then dumped onto ships or barges to be transported to Honolulu. Some of the sand was even used to build sections of PCH and the Los Angeles Coliseum
How do you think they moved this sand? Without big equipment, like we have today, every tiny grain of sand had to be lifted and removed with manpower...and a horse and buggy. Think about it this way....imagine a day at the beach with a 4-year old child and a plastic red bucket and shovel from CVS. How long do you think it will take to dig a hole for the child to sit in? An hour of digging a single hole in the California sun? Now you see why this project took over 10 years.
Although next time you visit Waikiki, Hawaii, you will now know why you love the beach so much! It's familiar!! It's your home sand from your favorite beach city Manhattan Beach, CA!
Topless Men is Not Allowed!
Back in 1867…people didn't "vacation" like we do today. Back then taking a vacation was not a "thing" people did. People just worked and then they hung out with their family. They had the weekends off and that was it. There was no such thing as a “Family Holiday.”
Until 1869, when a handsome young preacher from Boston named William H.H. Murray published one of the first guidebooks to a Wilderness Area. And then...slowly...people began to like the idea of leaving home to see the wilderness.
Wilderness maybe, but not a beach. Back then people just didn't play in the ocean. Why would they do that? Because humans just did not know how to swim. If you were going to swim you did it in a local lake or a pond, not the big ocean. And if you were going to swim, you did it naked. Why would you get your clothes wet. There were no dryers back then.
Hmmm...a bathing suit? Something you wore on your body just to swim? People didn't have those either. And with zero understanding and knowledge of rip tides, early unknowing swimmers were often whisked out to sea.
Slowly things began to change and beach resorts and covering the body started to grow. People began to learn how to swim and Manhattan Beach Development Company had a brilliant idea! Rent "bathing costumes" or "bathing gowns" under the pier. Separate clothing to swim in so you don't have to get naked or get your clothes wet. What a concept!
Fun fact:
When swim suits first came out, there was only 1 type for men and women. Which meant it was a full body suit that covered the "top." Look all over the beach back then and there was no shirtless man to be found! Men had to wear full coverage! Not a single chest hair would be shown on mens bodies. It wasn't until around 1934 when men rebelled from the extra clothing and the male “topless” swim suit began!
The Pier Roundhouse
Originally named “Potencia” (Meaning “Potential” energy), Manhattan Beach pier was first built to capture the massive ocean wave generating energy and use it as an energy source for this future bustling beach resort community.
The beginning developers were so convinced of this energy opportunity that they even built an iron pier jetting out into the ocean with machinery working nonstop. Then during a storm in 1897, 1.5 years after being built, the ocean swept the machinery away! The pier was rebuilt and in 1913 another storm blew it down again. This time, in 1920 it was rebuilt to last, however, the roundhouse wasn't added until July 4th, 1922.
Did you know there was a bathhouse under the pier deck at the base of the pier? The “bath house” facility included bathing suit rentals, beach umbrella rentals, 360 lockers, and various changing rooms. (see above to read about Topless men)
Click to Watch The Documentary about The Aquarium and it's story!
The Hidden Train Tracks? Two locations!
In the early 1890's Manhattan Beach was considered far. From everywhere.
"Why would anyone live so far from Hollywood?"
1) Did you know? Back in 1887, a train carried visitors to Manhattan Beach Main Street right where Valley/Ardmore sits today. The old rusty tracks have been yanked out and replaced by lush greenery and a sweet smelling wood-chip path known as the greenbelt.
The main train stop in town was right at Metlox, a dry goods and shipping was easily loaded and unloaded right here. The name of the stop was called Potencia Street, (Manhattan Beach Blvd was originally Potencia Street) however in the original train time table that stop was listed as “Shore Acres.” This stop was the main "hang out" because at the time, there were more visitors than residents.
Today residents love walking the wood chip path, all day and all night with friends, family and pets for exercise or a means of quiet safe travel. Today our city maintains the path and keeps the it looking stunning!
2) In 1903 by the sea - The Pacific Railway Company (who later merged with the Pacific Electric in 1910) installed a track along the oceanfront that led from Santa Monica to popular Redondo Beach, passing right through Manhattan Beach! The car was nicknamed "The Red Car” and stayed in service till 1940 when The Red Car was closed in 1940 due to competition from busses and private autos which made the Red Car economically unviable. The trolly track was just west of The Strand where the busy bike path exists today!
Did you know Manhattan Beach has TWO separate walkways by the ocean: The Strand, where people walk and the bike path for quick movers like bikers, skaters, rollerbladers or other unique moving contraptions our brilliant Manhattan Beach residents have found or create to get around by the beach!
Keep your eyes open! You never know what will roll by! And if you stop and ask questions, you may be offered a chance to try it out!
Manhattan Beach has Sibbings!
Guess How many "Manhattan Beach" cities are listed in the USA?
Yes!!!! 7 US cities also hold the name Manhattan Beach!
California
Florida
Iowa
Maryland
Minnesota
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Manhattan Beach busy post office
The few residents of Manhattan Beach took great pride in their post office. Back then mail was the only method of communication and took weeks to arrive. Many staff were needed to sift through the mail and distribute to recipients.
In 30 years, will the post office even be something that still exists?
Manhattan Beach has a song...?
Did you know in 1893 John Phillips Sousa wrote a song called "Manhattan Beach March"?
Want to listen? See if you can hear the slight differences in these 2 versions?
a) Listen to a rendition here! Similar to what John Philip Sousa himself used when he conducted this intriguing and entertaining march.
b) Listen to this rendition! "The President's Own" United States Marine Band presents "Manhattan Beach" by John Philip Sousa.
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Bruces Beach
In 1912 and 1920, Willa Bruce purchased two lots of land along the Strand in Manhattan Beach. As Americans of African descent, the Bruce family moved West to seek opportunities of the American Dream. Charles and Willa Bruce soon turned their "Bruces Beach" into a seaside resort that welcomed Black beachgoers from all over Los Angeles.
In 1924 racial tensions grew and the land was taken from the Bruce family for to condemn that Beach area and the surrounding land through eminent domain to build a park. The land sat empty until 1956 when the City of Manhattan Beach finally built a park on the hilly land behind the Bruce’s Beach resort.
The Plot of land where Bruces Beach area sits on today was an area that contained 30 plots. 2 were owed by the Bruce family, where the life guard area sits today, 2 more were owned by another African American family and the other 26 were owned by other families. All were moved when the city changed their order.
In 1995, through a series of land transfers between the City of Manhattan Beach, the State of California, and the County of Los Angeles, the County acquired the land called "Bruces Beach."
On April 20 and October 5, 2021, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted for the L.A. County CEO’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative to follow these steps to return Bruce’s Beach to the rightful owners.
On June 28 2022, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved the transfer of ownership to the Bruce family. The County will pay a yearly lease for use of the land.
We Are Famous!
TV Films shot Manhattan Beach!(location) starred in the USA
Do you recognize any real locations here in Manhattan Beach?
1408: John Cusack character is surfing the great waves in El Porto (North Manhattan Beach)
Beverly Hills, 90210: Beach scenes, beach house scenes.
2012: Cracks appear down the middle of 45th Street. (Don't worry! It's movie!)
Against All Odds: Scenes on The Strand & on the beach.
Blow: Johnny Depp..shots seen all over our town!
CSI: Miami: Was shot at our very own Manhattan Beach Studios! With one episode at Pollywog Park.
Hannah Montana: (V show) used our Manhattan Beach Pier in the intro of the show and our Mira Costa High School as the TV show "school."
Indictment: The McMartin Trial Manhattan Beach Pier was the site for the last scene of the movie.
Jerry Maguire: Dorothy's (Renée Zellweger) house is 527 23rd Street, Manhattan Beach. See if you can find the house!
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl: Scenes inside Governor Swan's mansion were shot here!
Point Break: Look for our Manhattan Beach Pier where Keanu Reeves buys his surfboard from a shop!
Starsky and Hutch: Starsky (Ben Stiller) is seen stretching under our pier.
Tequila Sunrise: See our beach near the pier where Mel Gibson's character lives!
Veronica Mars, Weeds, Airborne, Mac & Devin Go to High School
Our Manhattan Beach is also seen in these music videos:
"White Walls" by Macklemore.
"Young, Wild & Free" by Snoop Dogg
"Surfin' U.S.A." by the Beach Boys. Group members were from the adjacent city of Hawthorne.
Surfin USA [First Song Chorus].
You'd catch 'em surfin' at Del Mar
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
Ventura County line
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
Santa Cruz and Trestles
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
Australia's Narrabeen
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
All over Manhattan (THIS IS US!!)
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
And down Doheny Way
(Inside, outside)
Manhattan Beach Open volleyball tournament in World famous and known as "The Championships, Wimbledon of Beach Volleyball."
If you head over to the Manhattan Beach Pier you will see the names of the tournament champions inscribed in plaques!!
Watch for this event in August! as it usually airs on national TV.
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