Long Beach has a long list of historic landmarks everyone should take the time to explore. From learning about the history of the city and its 114 landmarks, here are a few standouts you should take the time to visit.
Villa Riviera
The historic building located at 800 East Ocean Blvd. has been standing since 1929. At one point the second tallest building in Long Beach, the Villa Riviera is a 16-story French Gothic building. The castle-like building was added to the national register of historic places in 1996.
Rancho Los Alamitos
Sometimes referred to as Bixby Ranch after its last private owners, Rancho Los Alamitos built in 1806 is one of the oldest adobe houses in Southern California. The 19th-century adobe ranch house still stands today and is open to the public with the house and grounds converted into a museum that presents the history of the rancho era.
Cooper Arms Apartments
This twelve-story Renaissance Revival apartment tower was built in 1923 and had 406 rooms. The steel-reinforced concrete building has exterior walls of brick finished with stucco and has an L-shape.
The Queen Mary
The historic ocean liner that played a major role in the second world war and fastest liner from 1936-1952 is an Art Deco luxury and staple of Long Beach. It is now a hotel that is also home to a museum and convention center.
Breakers Hotel
The 14-story building in downtown Long Beach opened in 1926 as a luxury oceanfront resort hotel. The architectural development is described as “ultra Spanish.” The building has had its fair share of owners throughout the year going from hotel to retirement community to hotel. It became a designated landmark in 1989. Currently is scheduled to undergo a new set of renovations.
