Original Muscle Beach – Santa Monica CA

Description

In 1934, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) installed exercise equipment on Ocean Front Walk in Santa Monica, CA, immediately south of the Santa Monica Pier. Known today as Original Muscle Beach, the recreation area—which includes ropes, bars, swings, etc.—is considered the “birthplace of the physical fitness boom of the twentieth century.”

According to the City of Santa Monica’s travel and tourism website, “What began as a venue for people in Santa Monica to watch acrobats, gymnasts, wrestlers, and stunt performers practice their fantastical acts for films being shot during the Great Depression (to distract people’s attention from their own financial crises), the Original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, located just south of the Santa Monica Pier, quickly became a popular attraction in LA County for beachgoers and athletes alike. Not to be confused with nearby Muscle Beach in Venice, the Original Muscle Beach began in Santa Monica in the early 1930s and has since been dubbed ‘original’ to help distinguish between Muscle Beach Santa Monica and Muscle Beach Venice. While the name ‘Muscle Beach’ didn’t catch on until later in the mid-1940s, the beach was known simply as another of Santa Monica’s parks owned and maintained by the Santa Monica Parks and Recreation Department. […] As word spread of the new and exciting beach attraction that was bringing athletes from a variety of disciplines like outdoor wrestling and even circus performers, the beach park at Santa Monica came to be known as the place-to-be for celebrities, actors, stunt people and of course, bodybuilders.”

Santa Monica shut down Muscle Beach in 1958, but replaced $200,000 worth of exercise equipment at the original site in 1999 as part of a $10-million beachfront refurbishing effort financed by county park bonds.