Long Beach, California


Long Beach is located in the southern region of the state of California. The distance to to Los Angeles is 24 miles / 39 km. Arond 40 minutes by car. The city is a popular seaside resort. The Spanish explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, called the place the Bay of the Smokes because he observed the native people sending smoke signals.

The city named as a top digital city for five consecutive years. The city is home to the historical British ocean liner RMS Queen Mary. Today it is a hotel, restaurant, museum, and a convention space. The ship was in use on the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967.



To See And To Do In Long Beach


  • Long Beach Harbor Boat Tour
  • Queen Mary ocean liners
  • The Aquarium of the Pacific
  • The Art Theatre
  • The Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary
  • The Historical Society of Long Beach museum
  • LBMA Downtown Historic Art Gallery
  • Long Beach Heritage walking tours
  • The Museum of Latin American Art
  • The Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Garden
  • The Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site
  • The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
  • The Parkers' Lighthouse Restaurant
  • The King’s Fish House Restaurant
  • The Towne Center Shopping
  • The Clay Pottery Studio
  • The Shoreline Village


History Of Long Beach - Timeline


9,000 years ago, the Tongva people lived in the oldest known village in the area, Puvunga. The village was located on the site of today's California State University. Excavations at this site have provided archaeological evidence of the Tongva people's history on the place.

In 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo explored the region and named the place Bahia de los Fumos (Bay of Smokes), after seeing smoke signals from Native American. In 1602, the Spanish explorer Spanish explorer Sebastián VizcaĹno reach today's Long Beach and renamed the area San Miguel. In 1769, Gaspar de Portolá led a Spanish expedition, and prepared the site for a settlement.

In 1784, the first permanent settlers came as part of a Spanish land grant.In 1800, the Rancho Los Alamitos was built. In 1844, the Los Cerritos Ranch House was built for merchant Jonathan Temple. A 27,000-acre ranch with cattle and sheep. In 1848, the United States the took over the territory from Mexico. In 1850, less than 2,000 people in the village.

In 1876, William Willmore, founded a colony and named it Willmore City. In 1880, William Willmore laid out the initial plan for the town. In 1888, Willmore City gets the new name, Long Beach, after its residents voted to rename the site. Also in 1888, Jotham Bixby, and his wife Margaret,founded the First Congregational Church. The Bixby family were ranchers and developers.

In 1890, the town had had horse-drawn trolleys. In 1891, the town had had railroads. In 1894, the first version of the Long Beach pier auditorium was built. In 1895, the Long Beach Public Library opened, and the Long Beach High School was founded. In 1897, the city was incorporated.

In 1900, 2,252 people lived in the city. In 1902, the Pike amusement park opened, and electric trolley operated in the city. In 1903, the Masonic Temple was built. In 1906, the Bembridge House was built by Stephen Green and his wife Josephine. In 1911, the Port of Long Beach opened and became an important place for ships and trade. In 1913, 39 people lost their lives when the Long Beach pier auditorium collapsed.

In 1919, the Jergins Trust Building was built. (The building was torn down in 1988). In 1921, oil was discovered at Signal Hill. Signal Hill was erlier used by the local Tongva Indians for signal fires. In 1923, the Daugherty Airfield was built. In 1924, the Argus newspaper was published, and the city's own Gas Department provided gas to homes and businesses. In 1925, the Brayton Theatre was built. In 1926, the Scottish Rite Cathedral was built. In 1927, the Leonie Pray House was built.

In 1928, the Villa Riviera apartment building was built. In 1929, the Ocean Center Building was built. In 1932, the Skinny House was built. In 1933, the Long Beach earthquake killed around 120 people, damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings. In 1934, the main Post Office building opened. In 1943, the former number 1 tennis player in the world, Billie Jean King, was born in the city. In 1945, the Press-Telegram newspaper started.

In 1949, the California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) was founded. In 1950, the Museum of Art wass founded. In 1954, the Long Beach State 49ers baseball team was formed. In 1956, the actress and model Bo Derek was born in the city. In 1958, the Blair Field baseball stadium was built. In 1964, the actor Nicolas Cage was born in the city. In 1971, Snoop Dogg was born in the city. In 1975, the first IndyCar Series race was held in downtown. The Long Beach Grand Prix is the longest running street race held in the United States.

In 1981, the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden opened. In 1996, the Museum of Latin American Art was founded. In 1998, the Aquarium of the Pacific opened. In 1999, the Towne Center shopping area opened. In 2013, the Harvey Milk Promenade Park opened. In 2025, approximately 447,228 lived in the city.