Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Muscle Beach
Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 15, 2022
1. Muscle Beach Marker
The world-famous Muscle Beach was originally located on the beach just south of the Pier, operating from the mid-1930's until 1958. The amazing shows of acrobatics became so popular that more people actually attended these shows than visited the Pier itself.
Famous bodybuilders such as Jack LaLanne and Joe Gold, the founder of Gold's Gym, regularly worked out here, establishing Santa Monica as the birthplace of the physical fitness boom. Other activities and points of interest whose roots began near the Pier are beach volleyball, Hot Dog on a Stick and Cirque du Soleil.
Erected by City of Santa Monica, and LACarguy.com.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1958.
Location. 34° 0.544′ N, 118° 29.865′ W. Marker is in Santa Monica, California, in Los Angeles County. It can be reached from Colorado Avenue west of Ocean Avenue. Located on Santa Monica Pier. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 356 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: La Monica Ballroom (here, next to this marker); Sinbad's & Moby's Dock (here, next to this marker);
this page online
Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 15, 2022
2. Muscle Beach Marker
The marker is located on a small kiosk (sharing with two other plaques) on the Santa Monica Pier.
Public Domain
3. Original Muscle Beach - 1940s
Jack LaLanne is 2nd from top.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 487 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 12, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 3. submitted on July 5, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
