Accessibility links
Photo Gallery: The Santa Monica Pier The historic Santa Monica Pier celebrated its centennial year in Los Angeles on July 23, 2009

Photo Gallery: The Santa Monica Pier

  • The historic Santa Monica Pier celebrated its centennial year in Los Angeles on July 23. Built in 1909 and nearly destroyed by violent storms in 1983, it was rebuilt after local residents rallied to save it from demolition.
    The historic Santa Monica Pier celebrated its centennial year in Los Angeles on July 23. Built in 1909 and nearly destroyed by violent storms in 1983, it was rebuilt after local residents rallied to save it from demolition.
    Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
  • Originally, the pier was built as a public utility service that would carry sewage out to sea. Construction, shown here in 1908, took 16 months to complete.
    Originally, the pier was built as a public utility service that would carry sewage out to sea. Construction, shown here in 1908, took 16 months to complete.
    Courtesy Santa Monica Pier: A Century on the Last Great Pleasure Pier by James Harris
  • Visitors walk on the pier on opening day, Sept. 9, 1909.
    Visitors walk on the pier on opening day, Sept. 9, 1909.
    Courtesy Santa Monica Pier: A Century on the Last Great Pleasure Pier by James Harris
  • Olaf Olsen (right), a retired sailor who visited the pier in the 1920s and 1930s, may have inspired E.C. Segar's spinach-loving comic book character Popeye.
    Olaf Olsen (right), a retired sailor who visited the pier in the 1920s and 1930s, may have inspired E.C. Segar's spinach-loving comic book character Popeye.
    Courtesy Santa Monica Pier: A Century on the Last Great Pleasure Pier by James Harris
  • In 1975, Proposition 1 passed with two-thirds of Santa Monica voting to preserve the pier forever.
    In 1975, Proposition 1 passed with two-thirds of Santa Monica voting to preserve the pier forever.
    Courtesy Santa Monica Pier: A Century on the Last Great Pleasure Pier by James Harris
  • Storms destroyed one-third of the pier in 1983.
    Storms destroyed one-third of the pier in 1983.
    Courtesy Santa Monica Pier: A Century on the Last Great Pleasure Pier by James Harris
  • People dance during the centennial celebration of the pier on July 23.
    People dance during the centennial celebration of the pier on July 23.
    Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

1 of 7

&npsp;