Lerner 1

Michael Lerner
English 115
Professor Lawson
17 October 2015
548 words
The Santa Monica Pier
For my ethnography project, I chose to study how the Santa Monica Pier has
turned into a major attraction in Southern California. I chose to study this location
because I like the atmosphere and attractions. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, I decided to
spend some time at the historical Santa Monica Pier. People from all around the world
come to the pier to explore its beautiful attractions and scenery. There are many different
aspects of the Santa Monica Pier, from the amusement park to the groups of people who
visit every day. The Santa Monica Pier is a microcosm that displays cultural and
socioeconomic issues for Angelenos.
The Santa Monica Pier opened on September 9, 1909. In the beginning, the pier
was served as a public utility and a pipeline was built underneath it to run treated sewage
out to the ocean. Then, it became a hot fishing spot for men and women in the Santa
Monica Bay. In 1924, the La Monica Ballroom was built on the pier. It opened its doors
to more than 50,000 people, enough to cause the first traffic jam recorded in Santa
Monica history. Later, a breakwater and yacht harbor was created in 1933. Throughout its
history, the pier has changed over time and has become a popular recreational destination
in Southern California.

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At first glance, the pier appears overly crowded and the pier's old, wooden planks
bring back the time when the pier started. While I was there, I observed different types of
restaurants and booths that were selling souvenirs, hats, and candy. Also, I noticed along
the pier many vendors trying to make some money. I happen to stop by a caricature
drawing of a young Mexican couple and the artist was drawing a well-detailed picture of
the two. There was a group of people watching the artist create his work of magic. I heard
the sounds of music in the background, waves crashing on the shore, and people joyfully
talking together. The fresh, salty ocean breeze was blowing and seagulls were flying
through the air.
The Santa Monica Pier has many different types of attractions. Some of the wellknown attractions at the pier are the amusement park, carousel, and arcade. The
amusement park, called the Pacific Park, is one of the main attractions. The Ferris wheel
and roller coaster are the two rides that stand out the most on the pier. Also, the carousel
and arcade bring in a lot of attention from the visitors as well. The carousel has a lot of
history behind it and is bigger than a normal-sized carousel. The festive, eclectic
architecture attracts many families to ride its hand-carved horses. The arcade is filled
with people of all ages, ranging from young kids to adults.
When I think of the Santa Monica Pier, I visualize a place where people from all
sorts of backgrounds come together as a community to have some fun in the sun.
Different cultural groups and nationalities walk on the pier daily. Families, couples, and
even tourists came and experienced what the Santa Monica Pier was like. The Santa
Monica Pier brings in people from all walks of life to experience one of Southern
California's greatest treasures.

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