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

The Santa Monica Pier Carousel

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

Photographed by Denise Boose, March 8, 2010

1. 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. It is on Colorado Avenue west of Ocean Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker

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is at or near this postal address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica CA 90401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Santa Monica Pier (here, next to this marker); Colorado Avenue Viaduct (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Playland Arcade (about 600 feet away); Sinbad's & Moby's Dock (about 600 feet away); Muscle Beach (about 600 feet away); La Monica Ballroom (about 600 feet away); The Purser Hotel and Apartments (about 600 feet away); Santa Monica Harbor and Breakwater (approx. 0.2 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

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 2, 2018

2. Santa Monica Pier Carousel Marker

The marker is mounted on the building near the entrance.

on 100 historic places in Santa Monica. (Submitted on July 3, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.)

Santa Monica Pier Carousel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, March 8, 2010

3. Santa Monica Pier Carousel

Photographed by Denise Boose, March 8, 2010

4. Santa Monica Pier Carousel

Photographed by Adam Margolis, January 16, 2026

5. Santa Monica Pier Carousel

Photographed by Adam Margolis, January 16, 2026

6. Santa Monica Pier Carousel

Photographed by Denise Boose, March 8, 2010

7. Santa Monica Pier Carousel

National Historic Landmark image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, March 5, 2023

8. National Historic Landmark

This seems to be two photos, combined.

Santa Monica Pier and Carousel - 1922 image. Click for full size.

Public Domain, circa 1922

9. Santa Monica Pier and Carousel - 1922

Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,622 times since then and 68 times this year. Last updated on July 4, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on April 6, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 2. submitted on July 3, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3, 4. submitted on April 6, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 5, 6. submitted on February 19, 2026, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 7. submitted on April 6, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 8. submitted on September 24, 2023, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. 9. submitted on March 8, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.