IIYouth Guide to the HISTORIC

Stories, activities, games, and puzzles celebrating the world-famous Santa Monica Pier!

SANTA MONICA PIER

PIER SCAVENGER HUNTFind items on the Pier and get information by searching buildings,plaques, and signs. Ask people who work on the Pier to help you find theanswers. Be respectful and ask permission before taking items.

ITEMS TO FIND:

• A photograph of the Santa Monica Pier sign• One logo sticker from the manager of Bubba Gump Shrimp• One business card from a Santa Monica Police Officer

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:

1. In what year was the Pier officially opened?

2. The Carousel is in a building called the Hippodrome. When was the Hippodrome built?

3. Who was the architect of the Pier?

4. What is the name of the ballroom on the Pier that later became a skating rink?

5. In what year did storms destroy the west end of the Pier?

6. How old do you have to be to take a class at the Trapeze School?

7. Where is the Pier’s First Aid station?

8. What is the name of the amusement park on the Pier?

9. What kind of power is used to run the Ferris wheel?

10. What organization runs the Pier Aquarium?

Answers are on page 20.

he Pier is open every day of the yearfor you to enjoy the rides and games,food, shopping, fishing, street performersand music. As you take a walk down thePier’s wooden planks, use this guide tolearn about the Pier’s 100-year historyand fun things to do while you're here.

Have fun exploring one of our most treas-ured historic and recreational resources.And don’t forget to email stories, comments and photos from your Piervisit to us at info@santamonicapier.org.

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PELICAN FUN FACT:

The brown pelican nearly became extinct between the 1950s to

early 1970s due to the impact of the pesticide DDT. The birds’ eggs

were thin-shelled and broke before they hatched. After DDT was

banned in the US in 1972, the population bounced back and the

bird was removed from the endangered species list in 1985.

T

This Guide was made possible by a generous grant from the Sempra Energy Foundation, established to make a difference by creating innovative partnerships in our communities to produce sustainable andresponsible change.

The Sempra Energy Foundation is dedicated to investing in creative ideas and novel approaches that result in high-impact change in the world. We are pleased to partner withthe Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation on the Youth Guide and companion PierCurriculum for educators, to help Southern California students learn the unique and richhistory of the Santa Monica Pier and celebrate its Centennial year.

WELCOME TO THE HISTORIC SANTA MONICA PIER!

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THE PIER IS BUILT!The Santa Monica Pier was built 100 years ago. Now it’s aworld-famous amusement park.

Over four million people from all around the world visit the SantaMonica Pier each year. When it was originally built, it was not nearlythe tourist attraction it is today. As a matter of fact, at first itdid not have any rides or games or restaurants at all. So how didit all get started?

It started with sewage! The Santa MonicaPier was first built to carry the city’s sewageout to sea through a pipe under the Pier. At the time this was a big improvement overthe existing system that polluted the beachand surf.

The natural beauty of the marine wildernessand spectacular sunsets drew people frominland areas to Santa Monica. The Pier quicklybecame a popular destination for fishermen, vacationers and thrill seekers.

I3

Where in the World IS the Santa Monica Pier?Draw a line from the question to the correct answer and locate on the globe.

1 On what continent is the Pier located?

2 In what country is the Pier located?

3 In what state is the Pier located?

4 In what city is the Pier located?

5 In what body of water does the Pier stand?

Pacific Ocean

Santa Monica

North America

California

United States

Answers are on page 20.

PELICAN FUN FACT:

The Pier is 1,600 feet long. That is about ¼ of

a mile or two city blocks long.

THE CAROUSEL IN THE HIPPODROME

A second pier built next to the first one made space for fun rides.

Painted horses carry riders on the Pier’s carousel while organ musicplays. The carousel is inside the Hippodrome. A “hippodrome” was a stadium for horse races in ancient Greece. The Hippodrome is the oldestbuilding on the Pier, built by Charles Looff and opened in 1917.

Today’s carousel is the third one to be in this building. The hand-carvedwooden animals were stripped and repainted in the 1980s.

People used to live in apartments above the carousel onthe second floor. Today, the City of Santa Monica andthe Pier Restoration Corporation have offices there.

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5

PELICAN FUN FACT: The carousel now on the

Pier was built in 1922. It has 44 horses.

Create and color your own carousel horse.

6

SPORTS, FUN AND FITNESS AT THE PIER

The Pier and nearby beach offer a variety of fun and activesports for everyone, no matter your age or ability.

Outdoor exercise has long been a part of the Pier and the SantaMonica Beach scene. Not far from the Pier is the original MuscleBeach. Beginning in the 1930s it was a popular place to exerciseand do gymnastics outdoors. Soon it became a world-famousplace for bodybuilders to show off for crowds of people whocame to watch their performances. In 2000, Muscle Beach wasrestored with new gymnastic and balance equipment.

ACTIVITIES AT THE PIER:

• Bike riding

• Volleyball or basketball

• Rollerblading

• Surfing or boogie

boarding

• Swimming

• Jogging or walking

• Swinging

• Flying on the trapeze

• Climbing the jungle gym

• Gynmastics on bars

and rings

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Marathon dances started with many couples competingfor prizes. As dancers grew tired, they dropped outof the contest until only a few were left.

1 2 3 4

8 7 6 5

Dancing on the Pier started in 1924 when the La Monica Ballroomwas built. It was so big, 5,000 people could dance there at one time.In those early years people without a job could win money by competingin dance marathons. Whoever danced the longest would win money.The ballroom was closed in 1962.

Now every summer the Twilight Dance Series is held outdoors on thePier parking deck. Live bands play and people can dance, sing, or justlisten to the music.

Learn to Salsa Dance!

The number represents the beat of the

music. The blue foot print represents the

foot where your weight should be on the

corresponding beat of the music.

“Break” means stepping forward quickly

and rocking back. Remember to dance

light on your toes!

8

THE PIER AND THE AQUARIUM

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is beneath the Carousel at beach level. It is owned and run by an environmental group called Heal the Bay.

The first aquarium at the Pier was located in the La Monica Ballroom.One large and two small tanks displayed fish and sea life from thenearby waters. It was run by the Santa Monica Lifeguard Service.

The Aquarium is home to more than 100 species of plants and animalsfound in the Santa Monica Bay including eels, sharks, rays, fish and invertebrates. Touch tanks are filled with tidepool animals. Visitors canget a spiny hug from a sea urchin, touch a knobby sea star or sticky seaanemone, and feel the seawater spray of a swell shark.

Help the California Moray eel find its dinner.

9

The Aquarium is a great place to learn about marinebiology, pollution prevention, oceanography, andbeach ecology. Marine-themed puzzles, games, booksand a puppet theater add to the fun.

By offering a hands-on experience, the Aquarium isa place to learn about the plants and animals thatlive in the Santa Monica Bay. It also shows us howimportant it is to preserve unique marine environmentsin all Southern California waters.

PELICAN FUN FACT:

Did you know that you can adopt an animal at the Pier Aquarium

for a year? Your donation will provide food and care: you’ll also

receive a photo, fact sheet and two free family passes to visit your

foster animal. For more information visit healthebay.org .

AMUSEMENTS ON THE DECK

Ride the rides, play the games, go fishing and enjoy the street performers.

The Pier has many great rides and games. Try the roller coaster,electric bumper cars and sea planes at Pacific Park, the West Coast’sonly amusement park over the waves. Check out the arcade for agame of skee-ball or air hockey.

Walk to the end of the Pier and try your hand at fishing. You can alsostop and enjoy the many talented street performerswho juggle, sketch, paint andsing for your entertainment.

Don’t forget to ride theamazing Ferris wheel calledthe Pacific Wheel. It’s theworld’s first Ferris wheel to run on solar (sun) power.It is the perfect place to get a bird’s eye view of thePier and bay.

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PELICAN FUN FACT:

The Pacific Wheel is more than 130 feet

high (as tall as a 9-story building).

It can carry 800 passengers in an hour.

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WORD FIND ~ THINGS YOU WILL SEE AT THE SANTA MONICA PIER!ACROSS: Ocean, Rides, Churros, Cotton Candy, Carousel, Sun, Games

DOWN: Aquarium, Roller Coaster, Trapeze

J R U O P C X C H U R R O S T U X

K O A R S I O C X T Y J K N R D V

F L J C O T T O N C A N D Y I N S

O L D V F T N T G P C X T U K A R

M E R L M R O R N R D V R T S Q F

A R B I L A O G A M E S A L J U E

R C J Y Z D E A P R O U P E L A N

B O C A R O U S E L T U E B R R K

E A R L M R O D Z J W I Z P S I P

I S O C F D R I D E S O E N T U B

E T R L M A R S I O C X D E L M B

R E Q V F L J B P U E O C E A N F

C R K G P E C S U N Q K D S O S P

Answ

ers

are

on p

age

20.

BASIC CORN DOG RECIPE(Ask an adult to help you with this recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups flour¾ cup cornmeal½ cup sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:Preheat the oil in a deep pot or fryer. Mix cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt,and baking soda in a bowl. Add milk and egg yolks to the dry ingredients.Stir until smooth. With a paper towel, pat the hot dogs to dry. Pushthe hot dogs onto the skewers halfway up. Dip 2 hot dogs into thebatter. Put them into the hot oil for about 20 seconds. Keep coveredby oil for 5-6 minutes or until the outside is golden brown. Turn themonce or twice as they cook. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels.Repeat with the other hot dogs.

GOOD EATS AT THE PIER

The Pier has lots of places to eat special treats.

Amusement parks are known for food that is quick to make andeasy to eat. In the Pier’s early days, people brought their own picnic lunches. Later, visitors could also buy food from snackstands on the Pier and restaurants nearby.

What’s pink, fluffy, and melts inyour mouth? Cotton candy, ofcourse. It’s been sold on thePier for many years. CottonCandy was invented in the late1800s. It was introduced to Americans at the 1904 St. LouisWorld’s Fair.

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Picnicking under the pier, 1920s

1 ¾ teaspoon salt 8 turkey hot dogs1 teaspoon baking soda 8 cups vegetable oil1 ¾ cup fat-free milk 8 skewers2 egg yolks, slightly beaten

CALORIE COUNT

• COTTON CANDY220 calories, 0 grams of fat, 56 grams of carbs

• FUNNEL CAKE356 calories, 16 grams of fat, 49 grams of carbs

• CHURRO326 calories, 15 grams of fat, 41 grams of carbs

• CORN (TURKEY) DOG270 calories, 10 grams of fat, 25 grams of carbs

If you wanted to burn off these

calories by walking, it would

take an hour to burn off 150-420

calories, depending on how

much you weigh, whether you

are walking on flat ground or

up hills, and how fast you walk.

Funnel cakes are another Pier specialty. The lacy, bumpy pancakes are called funnel cakes because they are made bypouring batter through a funnel into a pan of hot oil. At thePier they can be sprinkled with powdered sugar or served with fruit, whipped cream or ice cream.

Churros originated in Spain but are now popular in Mexico andthe U.S. They taste like doughnuts and are eaten while warmand sprinkled with sugar.

Did you know that Hot Dog on a Stick started in Santa Monica in 1946, more than 50 years ago? The original stand is still on the boardwalk near the Pier. The hot dog is put on astick, like a lollipop, dipped in cornbread batter and fried for a crispy outside.

Other great places to eat on the Pier are Rusty’s Surf Ranch,Mariasol Cocina Mexicana and Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.These restaurants offer visitors a variety of good eats.

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PELICAN FUN FACT:

In recent years more than

a million pounds of food

waste from all restaurants

in Santa Monica were kept

out of landfills because of

its composting program.

14

PELICAN FUN FACT:

An average of

500,000 gallons per

day of urban runoff

from Santa Monica

and Los Angeles is

cleaned at Santa

Monica’s Recycling

Facility.

KEEPING THE PIER AND THE ENVIRONMENT CLEAN

There are many ways to keep the Pier and the beach clean andsafe for people, ocean plants, fish, birds and animals.

The Pier was first built to take the city’s sewage out to the sea sothat swimmers and fishermen were not harmed by the pollution in thewater. Today, we still are careful about preventing pollution. We wantto protect people and ocean plants, animals and fish.

Rainwater carries trash, oil and chemicals into the city’s storm drainsand out into the ocean. Trash in water also gets into the ocean fromconstruction sites, car washing and over watering gardens. To helpclean this water before it drains into the ocean the city createdSMURRF, which stands for the Santa Monica Urban Runoff RecyclingFacility. Machinery at SMURRF cleans the water so that it can bereused in city gardens and parks. Visitors can see the equipment andhow the water is treated from a walkway next to the recycling center.

Help keep our ocean clean. Circle the objects that should not be in the water.

15

Catch that Fishing Line! Question: What’s almost invisible, very strong,can last up to 600 years in water and kills manybirds, turtles, crabs and fish in the ocean? Answer: The fishing line that is thrown away bypeople who fish. To help with this problem, thereare collection bins on the Pier where unwantedfishing lines can be safely discarded.

Recyclable Food Containers and Food Composting Santa Monica law requires that all restaurant take-out food be put incontainers that can be recycled or composted. That means no foamplastic is allowed. Marine animals and seabirds often mistake foam containers for food and it is not healthy for them. Also, foam and otherplastics can end up as litter on beaches. Many Pier restaurants alsohelp by composting leftover food, which can be used to fertilize soil.They also recycle bottles, cans and paper.

Getting to the Pier and Beach Want to get to the Pier in ways that will cut down on pollution? Walk,ride a bike, carpool or take Santa Monica’s Mini Blue Bus or Big Blue Bus.City buses use alternative fuels and bio-diesel and are washed in waterthat is mostly recycled. Bus batteries are recycled and even their worn-out tires are ground up and used for repaving city streets.

Those who fish from the

Pier use special recycling

bins to safely throw away

unwanted fishing lines so

plants and animals in the

ocean won't be harmed.

16

THE PIER SURVIVES

Bad storms and fire nearly put an end to the Pierbut it still stands today for us to enjoy.

During the Pier’s 100-year history, it was nearly destroyedseveral times.

Crumbling Pillars. In 1919, the end of the Pier suddenlydropped two feet because its pillars rusted. The Pier had toclose so new pillars could be built.

Bad weather. Storms have damaged the Piernearly every decade. High waves caused by astorm in 1983 washed away the lower fishingdeck and parts of the Pier fell into the water.Again the Pier closed and was rebuilt.

Fire in the Carousel. In 1974, two men set a fire in the top floor of the Hippodrome.Firemen saved it and the rest of the Pierfrom burning down.

What do you think the Pier will be like in the year 2109? Draw some of therides, games, and restaurants you think might be there 100 years from now.

City Council Votes to Destroy the Pier In the 1970s, thePier needed repairs that would have cost a lot of money.The City Council decided instead to tear down the Pier.They wanted to replace it with a bridge leading to an islandwith a new hotel, convention center and restaurants. People loved the Pier so they protested. They convincedthe City Council to keep the Pier.

In 1976 the Santa Monica Landmarks Commission voted to make the Pier an official historical landmark. That means it can never be torn down.

17

THE PIER TODAY

Today the Pier is as popular as ever with rides, games, dances,music, food, recreation and more.

The Pier is a wonderful historic public place. In addition to the amusementrides and games, there are artists that will paint your portrait or yourname using sea themes for each letter. There are food treats and shopping,the Aquarium and the beach— something for everyone.At the Pier historic and fungo hand in hand — the classic fun of the past ispreserved here for you toenjoy along with new surprises that you will discover each time you visit.

PELICAN FUN FACT:

The dragon head (below) that was built for the

playground at Carousel Park was inspired by

stories of sea monsters that were supposedly

spotted in the water near the Pier long ago.

18

For more great stories about the history of the Pierpick up a copy of Santa Monica Pier – A Century on theLast Great Pleasure Pier by James Harris, and if youstop by the Carousel you might just be lucky enoughto meet Mr. Harris yourself.

You may also want to visit, the Trapeze School NewYork. Classes are offered every day for children andadults. You can learn to “fly” on a trapeze, climb hangingropes or fabric, or do acrobatic yoga.

Harbor Patrol Since the 1960s, the Harbor Patrol has protected thePier and the water nearby. The Harbor Patrol is part of the Santa MonicaPolice Department. They are on the Pier 24 hours a day. They rescueswimmers, boaters, and sea animals that are in danger. They can alsogive you daily information about the beach, weather, boating or fishing.The Santa Monica Police Department has a substation on the Pier that is open seven days a week as well.

The Santa Monica Police Department helps make the Pier and beach safe for you and your family.

19

1. On what continent is the Pier located?

2. In what country is the Pier located?

3. In what state is the Pier located?

4. In what city is the Pier located?

5. In what body of water does the Pier stand?

J R U O P C X C H U R R O S T U X

K O A R S I O C X T Y J K N R D V

F L J C O T T O N C A N D Y I N S

O L D V F T N T G P C X T U K A R

M E R L M R O R N R D V R T S Q F

A R B I L A O G A M E S A L J U E

R C J Y Z D E A P R O U P E L A N

B O C A R O U S E L T U E B R R K

E A R L M R O D Z J W I Z P S I P

I S O C F D R I D E S O E N T U B

E T R L M A R S I O C X D E L M B

R E Q V F L J B P U E O C E A N F

C R K G P E C S U N Q K D S O S P

�

ANSWERS:

Inside Cover: Scavenger Hunt

1. 1909, 2. 1916, 3. Edwin H. Warner, 4. La Monica Ballroom, 5. 1983,

6. 6 years old, 7. West end, 8. Pacific Park, 9. Solar power, 10. Heal the Bay

Page 3: Where in the World IS the Santa Monica Pier?

North America

United States

California

Santa Monica

Pacific Ocean

Page 11: Word Find

Ocean, Rides, Churros, Cotton Candy, Carousel,

Sun, Games, Aquarium, Roller Coaster, Trapeze

Page 14: Circle the objects that should not be in the water.

20

Santa Monica Pier Opening Day, September 9, 1909

This publication was made possible by a gift from the Sempra Energy Foundation.Diane Kuntz Design StudioText and photo research by Sherrill KushnerIllustrations by Lynda ModaffCopyright © 2009 The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation

Images that are not credited below are from the Pier Restoration Collection.The following photographs are reproduced by permission:Courtesy of Steve Koeppe: Cover (sign and carousel), 18 (top left)Courtesy of Pacific Park: Cover (Ferris wheel), 5, 10 (right), 18 (right)Courtesy of Diane Kuntz: Cover (child), 1, 11 Courtesy of Santa Monica Public Library Image Archives: 2, 4, 6, 12 (right),

17 (top), inside back coverCourtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection: 7Courtesy of Heal the Bay: 9Courtesy of Hot Dog on a Stick: 12 (top) Courtesy of Santa Monica Historical Society: 17 (inset)Courtesy of Karen Maze / www.karenmaze.com: 19 (bottom), back cover

For more information on the Santa Monica Pier, please refer to:

• The Pier Restoration Corporation www.santamonicapier.org• Pacific Park www.pacpark.com• Santa Monica Public Library Image Archives www.smpl.org• Santa Monica Pier: A Century on the Last Pleasure Pier, by James Harris• Santa Monica Pier: A History from 1875 to 1990,by Jeffrey Stanton

AcknowledgementsSpecial thanks to Sempra Energy Foundation, Andrew Basmajian, Environmental OutreachSpecialist, City of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability and the Environment; Diane Cancino,Afterschool Program Specialist, City of Santa Monica; Ben Franz-Knight, Executive Director,Pier Restoration Corporation; Cynni Murphy, Image Archives Librarian, Santa Monica PublicLibrary; Randi Parent, Community Outreach Coordinator, Santa Monica Pier Aquarium andRebecca Sprigg, CREST, Afterschool Program Director.

The Santa Monica Pier is owned by the city of Santa Monica and operated with the oversight ofthe Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation, a nonprofit corporation established in 1983.

IIwww.santamonicapier.org

Copyright © 2009 Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation Publication Prin

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