San Pedro in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
History of San Pedro Plaza Park
San Pedro Plaza Park, originally known as Plaza Park, was opened to the public on July 1, 1889, on 5 acres of land which was donated to the community by Roman Sepulveda. Though the park has no structures today, it once contained a bandstand and a library. The park represented a recreational destination for many San Pedro residents who could come and enjoy impressive views of what was once a small harbor.
Today the park overlooks the Main Channel to the east and is located just west of the Vinegar Hill Historic District, once the neighborhood of San Pedro's elite. Many of the neighborhood's first residents were Scandinavians, Italians, and Croatians who made their own wine at home. They would throw the old grape skins and dregs of their wine into a nearby gulch resulting in a sour smell that would emanate through the neighborhood, giving the district its name. The park has changed greatly over the years, but it still provides remarkable views of what is now one of the busiest ports in the United States.
Carnegie Library
Though no structure stands here today, Plaza Park was once the home to the San Pedro Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. In 1905, funds were sought from the Carnegie Foundation, sponsored by American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The Carnegie Library was completed in 1906 within Plaza Park (between 8th and 9th Streets). The building was designed by architects Edelsvard and Saffel and H.V. Bradbeer in the Classical Revival Style. The hallmarks of this style could be seen in the building's column-supported portico, triangular pediments, symmetrically placed windows, and large dome.
The library represented the cultural center of San Pedro and was a beloved landmark for many of its citizens who referred to it as the “Little Old Lady of Beacon Street.” During World War I, the San Pedro Branch library was assigned a representative to provide library services to the military and merchant marines. During the war the library provided service to hundreds of visiting merchant vessels, servicing 207 in 1920 alone. However, by 1922 San Pedro had outgrown this library and a new library was completed in 1924. The Long Beach Earthquake of 1933 badly damaged the library, and it was subsequently condemned. In total disrepair, the library building was demolished in 1966 to make way for the Maritime Industry Memorial, which once stood just south of the library's former location but was demolished in 2014 due to its unsafe condition.
Bandstand
The first known structure built within the park, in 1892, was an octagonal pavilion or bandstand located between 8th and 9th Streets. The bandstand was the site of many concerts for the San Pedro population. In 1905, the bandstand was moved farther south on Beacon Street between 9th and 10th Streets to make room for the new Carnegie Library. Today, San Pedro Plaza Park no longer has a bandstand.
Erected 2016.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 33° 44.18′ N, 118° 16.817′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in San Pedro. Marker is on Beacon Street south of 8th Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 839 S Beacon St, San Pedro CA 90731, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. San Pedro Landmarks (a few steps from this marker); San Pedro Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); San Pedro Municipal Building (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); In Memory of Bloody Thursday (approx. 0.2 miles away); Anna Lee Fisher - Astronaut (approx. 0.2 miles away); Municipal Ferry Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); World War II Memorial: Propeller from Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. Canberra CA-70/CAG-2 (approx. 0.2 miles away); American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.
More about this marker. Located across the street is the San Pedro Post Office, built in the Art Deco style in 1936 as a WPA project, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 458 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 29, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.