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Projects in Long Beach Visit the California state page

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Page 1 of 212

Alamitos Neighborhood Library – Long Beach CA

The WPA constructed the Alamitos Branch of the Long Beach Public Library in 1938.

Project type: Education and Health, Libraries
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Benjamin Franklin Junior High School Sculptures – Long Beach CA

The school contains two WPA architectural sculptures “Girls Physical Education” and “Sower and Reaper.”

Project type: Art Works, Education and Health, Schools, Sculpture and Bas Relief
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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.

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Public Works Administration (PWA)

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

Project type: Art Works, Education and Health, Murals, Schools
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Public Works Administration (PWA)

Jane Addams Elementary School – Long Beach CA

Jane Addams Elementary School

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.

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Jane Addams Elementary School Fresco – Long Beach CA

"A Visit to the Jungle"

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.

Project type: Art Works, Murals
Agency: Federal Arts Project (FAP)

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.

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Public Works Administration (PWA)

Lincoln Park Public Library (former) – Long Beach CA

Lincoln Park & Public Library Postcard

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

Project type: Education and Health, Libraries
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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.

Project type: Firehouses, Civic Facilities, Military and Public Safety
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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.

Project type: Firehouses, Civic Facilities, Military and Public Safety
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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

Project type: Colleges and Universities, Education and Health
Agency: Public Works Administration (PWA)

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

Project type: Parks and Recreation
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Long Beach Main Library Murals – Long Beach CA

Long Beach Library "Children's Stories"

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.

Project type: Art Works, Education and Health, Libraries, Murals
Agency: Federal Arts Project (FAP), Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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

Project type: Airports, Art Works, Infrastructure and Utilities, Mosaics, Murals
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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

Project type: Airports, Infrastructure and Utilities
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Long Beach Plaza Mosaic – Long Beach CA

"Installing Mosaic at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium"

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

Project type: Art Works, Mosaics, Parks and Recreation
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Long Beach Plaza Mural – Long Beach CA

"Typical Activities of a Beach and Harbor City"

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

Project type: Art Works, Mosaics, Murals
Agency: Federal Arts Project (FAP), Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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

Project type: Art Works, Education and Health, Murals, Schools
Agency: Public Works Administration (PWA), Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Long Beach Polytechnic High School – Ceramic Mural – Long Beach CA

"Speed Is The Greatest Factor of Modern Life"

"Speed Is The Greatest Factor of Modern Life" (1935), ceramic mural.

Project type: Art Works, Education and Health, Murals, Schools
Agency:

Long Beach Polytechnic High School Mural – Long Beach CA

“High School Students”

Project type: Art Works, Education and Health, Murals, Schools
Agency:

Long Beach Polytechnic High School Mural – Long Beach CA

"Industrial Activities in Long beach"

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

Project type: Art Works, Education and Health, Murals, Schools
Agency: Federal Arts Project (FAP)

Long Beach Public Library Mural – Long Beach CA

"Scenes from English Language Classics"

“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.

Project type: Art Works, Murals
Agency: Federal Arts Project (FAP)

Los Cerritos Elementary Improvements – Long Beach CA

The WPA improved the grounds at Los Cerritos Elementary in Long Beach.

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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.

Project type: Art Works, Education and Health, Schools, Sculptures
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA), Federal Arts Project (FAP)

McKinley Elementary School – Long Beach CA

The WPA completed an addition to McKinley Elementary School in Long Beach.

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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

Project type: Infrastructure and Utilities, Maritime: Harbors, Ports & Lighthouses
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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.

Project type: Infrastructure and Utilities, Roads, bridges, and tunnels
Agency: Unknown

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

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Polytechnic High School Mural – Long Beach CA

"Industrial Activities in Long Beach"

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

Project type: Art Works, Murals
Agency: Federal Arts Project (FAP)

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

Project type: Flood and Erosion control, Infrastructure and Utilities
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Stevenson Elementary School Improvements – Long Beach CA

This Art Deco style school was built in 1934, and the WPA worked there improving the grounds.

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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.

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Thomas Edison Elementary School Relief Panel – Long Beach CA

Thomas Edison Elementary School, relief panel

This relief panel is over the front door of the school.

Project type: Art Works, Murals
Agency:

Thomas Jefferson Middle School – Long Beach CA

Thomas Jefferson Middle School

Rebuilt by the WPA after the original building (then known as Jefferson Junior High School) was destroyed in the 1933 earthquake.

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

U.S. Grant School Improvements – Long Beach CA

The WPA improved the grounds at the U.S. Grant School in Long Beach.

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency: Works Progress Administration (WPA)

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

Project type: Education and Health, Schools
Agency:

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

Project type: Art Works, Murals
Agency: Federal Arts Project (FAP), Works Progress Administration (WPA)
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