Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome

  • Also Known As: Santa Monica Amusement Pier Carousel Building
  • Originally a part of: Looff's Amusement Pier
  • Originally a part of: Looff Pleasure Pier

  • Address: 276 Santa Monica Pier
  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Building

The Building

The principal historic element of the formerly extensive collection of amusement facilities at the Santa Monica (Looff) Amusement Pier, this is a rare, intact example of an early shelter structure built (1916) to house a carousel in an amusement park and the better preserved of the two such structures that remain on the West Coast.

The Carousel

The Carousel presently in the Hippodrome is Philadelphia Toboggan Company #62, a 3-row carousel that began its career in Cumberland Park, in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1922. It was emplaced at Santa Monica in 1947. As an intact carousel by a first-rate manufacturer and of the general period represented by the Hippodrome, its presence contributes to the integrity of the structure, since it maintains the building's historic use. The interior of the Hippodrome is, furthermore, being restored to its original appearance to provide an approximation of the historic setting of the former carousel.

On the other hand, the carousel is not the original Looff carousel that was manufactured for the Hippodrome. And, of itself, as a rather typical example of Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel work in the early 1920s, it is, while quite attractive, not exceptionally early, rare, or unusually distinguished. It was, however, featured in the film "The Sting," and is well known from its appearance in other films and a host of television series episodes. - NRHP Nomination form, 1987


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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1916/06/12 Charles Looff Architect Hippodrome is opened for a weekend as a preview of the coming amusement park.
1922/00/00 Philadelphia Toboggan Co Craftsmen Toboggan Carousel 62 is created and installed at Cumberland Park, Nashville, Tennessee.
1943/00/00 Toboggan Carousel 62 moves to the Santa Monica Amusement Pier
1990/00/00 Toboggan Carousel 62 is reconstructed

Data »

Particulars for Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome:
Sight Category Building
Amusement ride Carousel
Area of Significance Entertainment - Recreation
Historic Use Fair
Architectural Style Georgian Revival
Criteria Historic Event
Level of Significance National



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration: 27th February 1987

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name: Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome
Registry Address: 276 Santa Monica Pier
Registry Number: 87000766
Resource Type: Building
Owner: Local
Architect: Looff,Charles and Arthur
Architectural Style: No style listed
Contributing Buildings: 1
Other Certification: Designated National Landmark
Certification: Listed in the National Register
Nominator Name: National Historic Landmark
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: National
Area of Significance: Entertainment-recreation
Applicable Criteria: Event
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Significant Year: 1916
Historic Function: Recreation and Culture
Historic Sub-Function: Fair
Current Function: Recreation and Culture
Current Sub-Function: Fair

Creative Works »

WorkTypeAsNotedInCreatorNote
The Sting Film George Roy Hill Robert Redford Paul Newman Philadelphia Toboggan Company 62 is feature in "The Sting".

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