| Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse |
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Built in 1932 for facilitating beach recreation through activities at Cabrillo Beach such as the renting of bathing suits and towels, the historical Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse is still providing services to the community today through the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks. From hosting the Olympics to undergoing a full restoration, the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse has a long history that the residents of Los Angeles and specifically San Pedro, are proud of. |
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The upstairs ballroom is host to weddings, community events, movie shoots, and serves as the classroom for the Los Angeles City Open Water Lifeguard Training program every spring.
The mediterranean-style structure began to degrade after 40 years of serving the community and closed down in 1981 due to no longer being able to serve the program needs of the area. The Museum displays were separated and placed into the newly formed Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, both still operating today. After years of lobbying by various organizations such as the Cabrillo Beach Boosters, the Cabrillo Beach chapter of the Polar Bear Club, and the San Pedro Historical Society, the Bathhouse was declared a historical landmark in 1989. In the summer of 2001, with a $3.5 million collaboration between various departments of the City of Los Angeles, a much needed restoration of the bathhouse was commenced. It was restored to its original look and luster, along with being brought up to modern building codes which included earthquake retrofitting and was reopened on October 12, 2002 with a dedication ceremony on what would turn out to be its 70th anniversary. The Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse is located at 3800 Stephen M. White Drive San Pedro, CA 90731. Check out the current Cabrillo Beach Surf Report. |
The Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse originally served the community through the renting of beach bathing items, restrooms, showers, snack bars, and community meeting rooms. The year it was opened, it was used alongside the 
What would turn out to be the last bathhouse built in California, it acted as a destination for inner city travelers commuting on the Red Car Line that ran from Los Angeles, ending in San Pedro. A working replica of the Red Car Line continues to service passengers along the San Pedro Waterfront today. 
The bathhouse was home to the Cabrillo Beach Museum, which contained a collection of sea life and maritime displays, and was founded by former Los Angeles City Lifeguard John Olguin, who was instrumental in the aquatic education programs offered.