Ocean Park in Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The “Ink Well”
A Place of Celebration and Pain
| — | Beach Stories | — |
Photographed by Craig Baker, July 28, 2021
1. The “Ink Well” Marker
Between Bay and Bicknell streets there is a beach known by some as the "Ink Well". This small stretch of shoreline was an important gathering place for African Americans long after racial restrictions on public beaches were abandoned in 1927. Located in close proximity to nearby African American neighborhoods and the Phillips Chapel CME Church, African-American groups from Venice, Los Angeles and Santa Monica came here to enjoy the sun and surf because here they encountered less racially-motivated harassment than at other Southland beaches.
Erected by City of Santa Monica, California State Parks, and National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1927.
Location. 34° 0.282′ N, 118° 29.454′ W. Marker is in Santa Monica, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Ocean Park. It can be reached from Bicknell Avenue west of Ocean Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Located near the beach, at the women’s restroom. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 Bicknell Ave, 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: “The Ink Well” (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pleasure Piers (approx. 0.2 miles away); Putting Down Roots
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Photographed by Craig Baker, July 28, 2021
2. The “Ink Well” Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 692 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 21, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
