Hermosa Beach in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Hermosa Beach Pier

Hermosa Beach Historic Landmark

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 5, 2022

1. Hermosa Beach Pier Marker

Inscription. Long a major attraction for residents and visitors, the first Hermosa Beach Pier was built in 1904. It was a wooden trestle structure extending 500 feet into the ocean. Damaged by a storm in 1913, it was replaced the following year with an improved 1,000-foot concrete structure. While the Hermosa Beach Pier has continued to change in appearance over the years, its stunning views and vistas have always remained a source of inspiration for photographers and filmmakers alike. Writer and director Damien Chazelle chose the Hermosa Beach Pier as the location for a key scene in his multiple Oscar-winning and critically-acclaimed film La La Land. Filmed on August 25, 2015, the scene ends with actor Ryan Gosling strolling along the Pier, singing a few verses of "City of Stars," marking the debut appearance of the Oscar-winning Best Original Song.

Erected by Leadership Hermosa Beach.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is August 25, 2015.

Location. 33° 51.71′ N, 118° 24.123′ W. Marker is

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

in Hermosa Beach, California, in Los Angeles County. It is on Pier Avenue west of The Strand bike path, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach CA 90254, 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: John "Whitney" Guild (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The First Bank of Hermosa Beach (about 600 feet away); The Metropolitan Theater (about 600 feet away); Site of The Courthouse, City Jail, Police and Fire Station (about 700 feet away); Pier Avenue School (approx. half a mile away); Old Salt Lake (approx. ¾ mile away); Francis Miyosaku Uyematsu (approx. 1.1 miles

Hermosa Beach Pier and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 5, 2022

2. Hermosa Beach Pier and Marker

away); Bill and Bob Meistrell (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hermosa Beach.

Hermosa Beach Pier image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 5, 2022

3. Hermosa Beach Pier

Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 616 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 5, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.