Oceanside Pier
 Oceanside Pier at sunset | |
| Spans | Pacific Ocean |
|---|---|
| Official name | Oceanside Municipal Pier |
| Toll | Open to the Public |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 1,954 feet (596 m) |
| History | |
| Opening date | 1888 |
| Coordinates | 33°11′30″N 117°23′20″W / 33.191672°N 117.388852°W |
The Oceanside Pier, located in Oceanside, in northern San Diego County, California, is the longest wooden pier on the western United States coastline at 1,954 feet (596 m).
History
The pier was first built in 1888 at what is now Wisconsin Avenue. The original pier was destroyed by storms in the winter of 1890, and was rebuilt in 1893 by Melchoir Pieper at what is now Pier View Way, where all subsequent piers would be located.[1] Four iterations of the pier were built and then destroyed by heavy storms. The current pier was built and formally opened to the public in September 1987, at a cost of $5 million.[2][3]
At the foot of the pier is the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre, which hosts numerous events throughout the year. The Junior Seau Beach Community Center, also known as the Beach Recreation Center, is a 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2) facility located near the pier that includes a gymnasium, meeting room, stage, and kitchen.[4] Both the amphitheater and the community center were renamed posthumously in 2012 in honor of hometown football hero Junior Seau.[5]
2024 Fire
At around 15:00 PDT on 25 April 2024, a major fire broke out at the former Ruby's Diner building at the far end of the of the pier, severely damaging it. The pier was swiftly evacuated and no injures were reported. Several firefighting vessels were dispatched to the scene to help put out the blaze, which as of 19:00 PDT, has yet to be put out. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and the pier is likely to be closed indefinitely.[6]
Activities
Now in its sixth incarnation (built in 1987),[7] the pier is a popular fishing spot,[8] and Ruby's Diner, a 1950s style diner, was located at the end of the pier from 1996 to 2021. Surfing is also very popular on both the North and South sides of the pier.
Parking
Pre-pay parking is available along Mission Ave, N. Pacific St, N. Myers, and as well as on N. Cleveland St. Metered parking is also available on Pier View Way. Parking regulations are very strict in Oceanside, especially near the pier and the harbor.[9]
Additional Images
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Oceanside Pier in the early 1900s -
Oceanside Pier in 1920 -
Oceanside Pier -
Aerial view -
Oceanside Pier -
Oceanside Marina
References
- ^ "Historical Oceanside". Oceanside-ca.com. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
- ^ "Oceanside's Piers". Oceanside Historical Society. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ^ "Oceanside Pier - Through the Years". Ken Jones. 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
- ^ "Beach Recreation Center". City of Oceanside. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ Huard, Ray (May 16, 2012). "Council names beach amphitheater, rec center for Seau". North County Times. Archived from the original on May 19, 2012.
- ^ "Watch Live: Massive blaze burns at iconic Oceanside Pier". nbcsandiego.com. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "The Oceanside Pier". Web.archive.org. 2008-01-16. Archived from the original on 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
- ^ "Oceanside Pier [Pier Fishing in California]". Pierfishing.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
- ^ "City of Oceanside, California - Parking Map". www.ci.oceanside.ca.us. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
External links
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