Alamitos Neighborhood Library – Long Beach CA
The WPA constructed the Alamitos Branch of the Long Beach Public Library in 1938.
Benjamin Franklin Junior High School Sculptures – Long Beach CA
The school contains two WPA architectural sculptures “Girls Physical Education” and “Sower and Reaper.”
Charles Lindbergh Middle School – Long Beach CA
Built by the PWA. The school’s website still displays an allegiance to the school’s namesake, showing rotating photos of Charles Lindbergh and his airplane.
Charles Lindbergh Middle School Mural – Long Beach CA
Medium: oil on canvas The massive 5 x 132 foot “History of Aviation” is located in the school library. Jean Goodwin and Arthur Ames did the sketches for this mural. Dorr Bothwell and possibly Helen Lundeberg enlarged them and did… read more
George Washington Middle School – Long Beach CA
The PWA did work on this school. Exact details not known, but the PWA seems to have been involved in earthquake retrofitting as well as some more decorative additions after the school was damaged in the 1933 Long Beach… read more
Jane Addams Elementary School – Long Beach CA
The WPA demolished and reconstructed Long Beach’s Jane Addams Elementary School in the 1930s; Living New Deal believes this was done in response to damage from the 1933 earthquake.
Jane Addams Elementary School Fresco – Long Beach CA
The fresco “A Visit to the Jungle” (medium: casein tempera on plaster), measures 5’6″ x 17’6″ and was commissioned by the New Deal’s Federal Art Project. The mural is housed in the Jane Addams Elementary School library.
Jordan High School – Long Beach CA
The WPA undertook various improvements and constructed an athletic field at Jordan High School in the 1930s. The WPA also spent another $4,900 on improving the school grounds.
Lafayette School – Long Beach CA
The Lafayette School (now Lafayette Elementary School) in Long Beach CA was built in 1936. It is almost certainly a New Deal structure, because the Public Works Administration (PWA) made the reconstruction of schools in Southern California a priority… read more
Lincoln Park Public Library (former) – Long Beach CA
The library was originally funded by Carnegie and built in 1907. The WPA rehabilitated the library after damage from the March, 1933 earthquake. The building pictured here was unfortunately destroyed by a fire in 1972. The new library was built… read more
Linden Avenue School – Long Beach CA
The 1939 WPA Accomplishment Report lists a school on Linden Ave. in Long Beach as part of the same project as the Burnett and Hill Street Schools. The above is the location of the Roosevelt Elementary School which is most… read more
Long Beach Fire Department Station 7 – Long Beach CA
The WPA rebuilt Long Beach Fire Department Station No. 7 after it was destroyed in the 1933 earthquake.
Long Beach Fire Department Station 9 – Long Beach CA
The WPA rebuilt Long Beach Fire Department Station No. 9 in 1939 after it was destroyed in the 1933 earthquake.
Long Beach Junior College – Long Beach CA
Formerly called Long Beach Junior College 'This project consists of three buildings, replacing the former school plant destroyed by earthquake in 1933. The upper illustration is of the physical-science building and the lower of the English building. The former is… read more
Long Beach Lifeguard Headquarters – Long Beach CA
“Three-story structure with hexagonal lookout tower built in 1938 as a WPA project; moved to Cherry Ave. in 1961.” -http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/List_of_City_of_Long_Beach_historic_landmarks “The Cherry Avenue Lifeguard Station was first constructed at the foot of Linden Avenue to replace the Lifeguard Headquarters that… read more
Long Beach Main Library Murals – Long Beach CA
These 9 murals titled “9 Children’s Stories” depict scenes from literary classics. They were painted by Suzanne Miller under the auspices of the WPA Federal Art Project. They were transferred from the old library building to this new location.
Long Beach Municipal Airport Murals and Mosaics – Long Beach CA
These murals and mosaics depicting aviation, navigation, zodiac and constellations are in various locations throughout the Long Beach Airport Terminal. They were created by then 28-year-old artist Grace Clements. From Early Aviation in Long Beach: “Long Beach declared the terminal… read more
Long Beach Municipal Airport-Daugherty Field – Long Beach CA
In the 1930s the WPA worked on the Long Beach Airport, making improvements to the fields and runways and constructing a new terminal and control tower building: “In the late 1930s, the council approved plans to purchase 255 acres adjoining… read more
Long Beach Plaza Mosaic – Long Beach CA
This colorful 38 x 22 foot mosaic “Recreation in Long Beach” was the largest WPA mosaic piece when it was finished in 1938. It originally adorned the Municipal Auditorium (since demolished and replaced by the Terrace Theater). In 1982, it was… read more
Long Beach Plaza Mural – Long Beach CA
This glazed tile mosaic, measuring 38′ in height by 22′ wide, is titled “Typical Activities of a Beach and Harbor City.” It was completed in 1938 with funding from the WPA Federal Art Project. It was originally installed on the… read more
Long Beach Polytechnic High School – Buildings – Long Beach CA
After the 1933 earthquake, Long Beach Polytechnic High School was rebuilt in 1937, partly by financing from the PWA, and by the WPA as well. Inscription above door reads “Enter to learn, Go Forth To Serve.” Cost below is for… read more
Long Beach Polytechnic High School Mural – Long Beach CA
This mural “Industrial Activities in Longbeach” wraps around an interior stairwell at Polytechnic High School between buildings 300 and 400. It was painted by Ivan Bartlett and Jean Swiggett in 1938 with support from the WPA Federal Art Project. It… read more
Long Beach Public Library Mural – Long Beach CA
“Scenes from English Language Classics” is an oil-on-canvas mural consisting of 9 panels, 4’6″ in height, of varying widths. The mural was painted by Suzanne Miller in 1937 with funding from the WPA Federal Art Project.
Lowell School Sculpture – Long Beach
Russian-born sculptor Louis Zack created this bust of James Russell Lowell, the school’s namesake, in 1940, with funding from the Federal Arts Project.
McKinley Elementary School – Long Beach CA
The WPA completed an addition to McKinley Elementary School in Long Beach.
Naples Canal – Long Beach CA
RETAINING WALL CONSTRUCTION, W.P. 7225, sponsored by the City of Long Beach, provides for the replacement of the wooden sheet piling retaining walls along the above canal with reinforced concrete sheet piling. The old wooden sheet piling retaining walls faced… read more
Pacific Coast Highway – Long Beach CA
A small half mile section of thoroughfare through Long Beach that was called State Street in 1935 before it became the Pacific Coast Highway between Loma Avenue and Hathaway Avenue was graded and paved under a Federal grant of $60,500.
Peter Burnett Elementary School – Long Beach CA
SERA demolished the old school (which had been ruined by the 1933 earthquake), and the WPA built a new one-story flat roof steel frame classroom, total area of 19,000 square feet. The building was divided into classrooms and equipped with… read more
Polytechnic High School Mural – Long Beach CA
Ivan Bartlett and Jean Swiggett completed this casein tempera fresco, entitled “Industrial Activities in Long Beach,” in 1938, with funding from the WPA Federal Art Project. The mural measures 17′ in height by 35′ wide. The artists were themselves alumni… read more
Retaining Walls – Long Beach CA
A 1939 report on WPA projects in Southern California records that: “The construction of retaining walls, Work Project No. 6961 sponsored by the City of Long Beach, replaces an existing wooden bulkhead between Ocean Boulevard and the Pacific Ocean, which… read more
Stevenson Elementary School Improvements – Long Beach CA
This Art Deco style school was built in 1934, and the WPA worked there improving the grounds.
Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School – Long Beach CA
Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School was originally built in 1935 with assistance from the WPA. In 2015, a major renovation was unveiled, which preserved existing aesthetic elements while modernizing the building.
Thomas Jefferson Middle School – Long Beach CA
Rebuilt by the WPA after the original building (then known as Jefferson Junior High School) was destroyed in the 1933 earthquake.
U.S. Grant School Improvements – Long Beach CA
The WPA improved the grounds at the U.S. Grant School in Long Beach.
Will Rogers Middle School – Long Beach CA
Will Rogers Middle School, built in 1935, is almost certainly a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) paid for the reconstruction of some 200 schools across Southern California in the wake of the Long Beach Earthquake of 1933…. read more
Will Rogers Middle School Mural – Long Beach CA
This mural “Deep Sea Magic” by Oklahoma artist Olinka Hrdy was painted in 1939 with funding from the WPA Federal Art Project. It is composed of two panels, each measuring 6 feet by 19 feet, and is currently located in… read more