Los Angeles may be best known as the entertainment capital of the world, but it’s also a place rich in history, culture, and diverse neighborhoods and towns. This couldn’t be truer of the city’s most southern tip—the Los Angeles Harbor, which is home to cultural and military landmarks that commemorate its early days and milestones over the century.
Los Angeles Harbor Light (Angels Gate Lighthouse)
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places October 14, 1980.
(#80000810)
Angels Gate Lighthouse, early 1900s
This historic lighthouse has marked the entrance to the Port of Los Angeles since 1913. Mariners are guided by the lighthouse’s rotating light, which was automated in 1973. Designed differently than any other California lighthouse, Angels Gate is situated on a 40-foot concrete square and is the only lighthouse on the West Coast that emits a green light to differentiate itself from other lighthouses in close proximity. Built to withstand rough seas, the framework is structural steel, with steel plates going up to the second floor.
Angels Gate Lighthouse Today
Municipal Warehouse No. 1
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places April 21, 2000.
(#00000386)
Warehouse One, circa 1940s
Completed in 1917, Municipal Warehouse No. 1 served as the Port’s only bonded warehouse, a function that was critical to Los Angeles’ entry into international trade markets. Still a working warehouse, it is also recognized as California State Historical Landmark No. 2709, and is located at Berth 68 in San Pedro.
Warehouse One Today
Ralph J. Scott Fireboat
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places June 30, 1989.
(#89001430)
Ralph J. Scott Fireboat, circa 1930s
Currently on display near Fire Station 112, the Ralph J. Scott was commissioned in 1925. The classic fireboat served the Los Angeles Fire Department until 2003, when it was retired after 78 years of service. It was replaced by the Warner L. Lawrence, one of the most powerful fireboats in the world.
Ralph J. Scott Fireboat Today
S.S. Lane Victory
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places December 14, 1990.
(#90002222)
Victory Shipbuilder during WWII
This 10,000-ton, fully operational World War II cargo ship has been restored and is dedicated as a living memorial to the civilian Merchant Marine and the Naval Armed Guardsmen lost at sea. Located at Port of Los Angeles, the ship is maintained by volunteers of the United States Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II, and open to the public for tours.
S.S. Lane Victory Moves to Outer Harbor
San Pedro Municipal Ferry Building
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places April 12, 1996.
(#96000392)
Ferry Building, circa 1940
From 1941-1963, ferry service transported vehicles and passengers on double-decked ferry boats back and forth across the Port’s Main Channel. Cannery and shipyard employees working on Terminal Island were the primary passengers. The Municipal Ferry Building now houses the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, which features exhibits and displays about life along the Port's waterfront through the years, highlighting the fishing and maritime industries.
Los Angeles Maritime Museum Today
USS Iowa (BB-61)
Commissioned by the United States Navy in 1943; decommissioned in 1990.
USS Iowa During WWII
Battleship USS Iowa began its service during WWII after being built at New York Navy Ship Yard. The namesake of the last class of battleships, the ship went on to serve during three different eras. Today, it is operated by the Pacific Battleship Center and serves as a symbol of American freedom and a platform for education, veterans, and community.
USS Iowa Today at the Port of Los Angeles
Vincent Thomas Bridge
Declared the City of Los Angeles' official welcoming monument by the Los Angeles City Council in 1999.
Vincent Thomas Bridge, circa 1960s
Named after California Assemblyman Vincent Thomas of San Pedro, the Vincent Thomas Bridge officially opened in 1963, where a 25-cent toll was collected on vehicles going in either direction. The toll was raised to 50 cents for westbound traffic in 1993, and then fully repealed in 2000. Although located at the Port of Los Angeles, the bridge is part of highway route CA-47, which is managed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).