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| Photographer Unknown |
Most historic pictures of Huntington Beach include a picture of the arch at Main and Ocean (now Pacific Coast Highway or "PCH") that was a stop for electric street cars. However, as the electric street cars were phased out, so was the Arch. There is now a pedestrian arch (different location) that spans PCH from the Hyatt Regency Resort to the ocean side of the street.
The Huntington Beach Lifeguard Headquarters near Main and PCH is an interesting place to visit because someone spent a lot of time creating amazing mosaic rock art pictures adjacent to the building.
The "Ultimate Challenge" sculpture is commonly known as the "Nude Dude" because the surfer does not have on a bathing suit. Apparently the artist, Edmond Shumpert, imagined the artwork as a "classical bronze," so "it would have been inappropriate to cloth the surfer." At one point it was suggested that the surfer be fitted with a cloth swim suit, but the suggestion was rejected by the City Council.
The Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center's mission is "to educate the public about man's impact on the environment and mitigate that impact through care and rehabilitation of native wildlife." When found, injured and orphaned native wildlife can be brought to the center for treatment and then released back into their native habitat. Public tours are given on a limited basis and by appointment.
The Newland house was constructed in 1898 on more than 500 acres of land. After the Newlands passed away, the property was sold to Signal Oil & Gas Company in 1952. Oil Company employees lived in the house for approximately 20 years before it was decided to demolish the house and build an oil refinery on the site. After the community strongly objected to the refinery, the land was sold to a developer for a shopping center. Once again the neighborhood residents strongly objected to the planned development and in the end the developer donated the house and a small parcel of land to the City for a historical park. The house is now open to the public on the first and third weekends and it can be rented for special events, including weddings.
Located adjacent to the Newland property is a monument dedicated to Ted Bartlett, who was a City Councilman and Mayor for 20 years. Originally from North Dakota, Bartlett was know as the City's "Goodwill Ambassador" because of "his generous manner and caring attitude."
Throughout and around the property are a number of wild and domestic flowers.
Huntington Beach Civic Center contains a large number of art works on the buildings and grounds that are worthy of a visit.
Located on the Civic Center grounds is a nice 9/11 monument that includes a structural part from the World Trade Center towers.
Also on the grounds is a War Memorial dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
And, of course, this is California so there are beautiful flowers throughout the Civic Center grounds.
Located across from the Civic Center is the Long Beach High School, which I thought was some type of historic structure until I walked across the street.
The "PCH House" at over 100 feet tall, is one of the tallest houses in the world. It has three-stories, four bedrooms and unobstructed 360-degree views of the coastal cities and the Pacific Ocean. Although the hamlet of Sunset Beach (part of Huntington Beach) claims that the tower is located in their community, technically the house is located in Seal Beach.
The structure was originally built in the 1800s as a 75,000 gallon water tank to service steam engine trains that ran along the California coast. In 1980 the structure was rebuilt as a house and is now a beach rental for about $7,000 per week (if interested, check website for current prices).
BONUS PICTURE (Kolohe's Cat)
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