Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Santa Monica Pier Carousel

Photographed By Denise Boose, March 8, 2010

1. The Santa Monica Pier Carousel Marker

Inscription. The Hippodrome (also known as the "Carousel Building") was built in 1916 by famous carousel carver Charles I.D. Looff. Its unique combination of Byzantine, Moorish, and California design made it easily identifiable among the festive, eclectic architecture of Santa Monica Bay in the early 20th century.

Among the last of its kind, the building was inaugurated into the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The carousel housed inside a 1922 Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel (PTC #62), boasts 44 hard-carved horses and two sleighs. It is the third carousel to be located in the Hippodrome, and has been here since 1947.

Erected by Angel City Press; and The Mcauley Family.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.

Location. 34° 0.612′ N, 118° 29.777′ W. Marker is in Santa Monica, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker is on Colorado Avenue west of Ocean Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica CA 90401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Santa Monica Pier (here, next to this marker); Playland Arcade

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(about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sinbad's & Moby's Dock (about 600 feet away); Muscle Beach (about 600 feet away); La Monica Ballroom (about 600 feet away); Santa Monica Harbor and Breakwater (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rapp’s Saloon (approx. ¼ mile away); Will Rogers Highway (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Monica.

Also see . . . Looff Hippodrome. Website of the Santa Monica Conservancy has information on 100 historic places in Santa Monica. (Submitted on July 3, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.)

The Santa Monica Pier Carousel and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, March 8, 2010

2. The Santa Monica Pier Carousel and Marker

The Santa Monica Pier Hippodrome & Carousel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, March 8, 2010

3. The Santa Monica Pier Hippodrome & Carousel

The Santa Monica Pier Carousel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, March 8, 2010

4. The Santa Monica Pier Carousel

Photographed By Denise Boose, March 8, 2010

5. The Santa Monica Pier Carousel

New Location image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, July 2, 2018

6. New Location

The marker is mounted on the building near the entrance.

National Historic Landmark Marker inside the carousel building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Douglass Halvorsen, March 5, 2023

7. National Historic Landmark Marker inside the carousel building

Looff's Pleasure Pier Carousel Building has been designated a National Historic Landmark. This site possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America. 1987, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior.

Photographed By Santa Monica History Board

8. The Santa Monica Pier Hippodrome & Carousel

Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,045 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on July 4, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 6, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 6. submitted on July 3, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7. submitted on September 24, 2023, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. 8. submitted on April 6, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.