The following is a lightly edited submission from the Pier Corporation.
Join Santa Monica Pier for “A Talk Through Pier History,” a free, one-hour storytelling event hosted by Jim Harris, Author and Santa Monica Pier Executive Director and Historian. The session will highlight fascinating, untold stories, memorable moments, and milestones that shaped the iconic Pier. The event will also feature a lively Q&A where guests can deepen their appreciation for the Pier’s rich history.
“Pier History,” will take place at the pier’s Merry-Go Round Building on Thursday, March 13, from 6-7 p.m.
Additionally, attendees will have the rare opportunity to tour the second-story apartments in the historic Merry Go-Round Building, where legendary celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Joan Baez, Paul Sand, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Groucho Marx, and others once visited or lived.
Guests can also purchase a signed copy of Jim Harris’s book “Santa Monica Pier: America’s Last Great Pleasure Pier.”
The Santa Monica Pier opened as a public utility on California Admissions Day, September 9, 1909, and has a storied past with a variety of Pier configurations throughout the years leading up to the pivotal City Council initiative in 1975. The Santa Monica Pier today welcomes more than 12 million guests annually.
This event is free, but seating is limited. While walk-ins are welcome, reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made here.