• Compton College Auditorium - Compton CA
    The auditorium at Compton College (formerly Compton Junior College) in Compton, CA, was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) after the campus suffered damage in the devastating 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Construction of the auditorium had begun under the California State Relief Administration (SRA); it was completed by the WPA at a federal cost of $8,345 and $24,578 total. It is possible the WPA was also responsible for building the College's main building and women's gym. It is unclear if these structures have survived ongoing construction at Compton College funded by the November 2002 passage of Measure CC—which authorized the issuance...
  • Compton High School Improvements - Compton CA
    The Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed a series of improvements and construction projects at Compton High School in Compton, CA. WPA laborers constructed the school auditorium; the women's gymnasium; and a 50' x 100' pool and bath house with showers, toilets, dressing rooms, etc. Compton High School was demolished in 2021 to allow for the construction of a modern campus, scheduled to open in 2025.
  • Lincoln Elementary School (demolished) - Compton CA
    The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed an office wing for a school on Tamarind Ave. in Compton, CA. The school was likely Lincoln Elementary School, which closed in 1989 and has since been demolished.
  • Mayo Plunge - Compton CA
    The Mayo Plunge swimming pool in Compton, CA, was initiated under the California State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA) and completed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It has since been demolished.
  • Post Office - Compton CA
    The construction of the post office in Compton, CA, was funded by the Department of the Treasury. It was completed in 1935 and is home to James Redmond's mural "Early California" (see linked project).
  • Post Office Mural - Compton CA
    In 1936, artist James Redmond painted a mural, "Early California," for the post office in Compton, CA. Funded by the Treasury Relief Art Project (TRAP), the mural depicts the mythic history of early California and wraps around all four walls of the lobby. "One of the most beautiful sets of mural panels executed under government sponsorship during the depression is James Redmond's panels for the Compton Post Office. Unfortunately, because of their location, they are also one of the least visited sites, which is a pity since they are so captivating in person. In his letter to TRAP administrators describing...
  • Willowbrook Middle School Building - Compton CA
    The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed the domestic science building at Willowbrook Middle School in Compton, CA.