Long Beach - Naples

Long Beach - “The Friendly City”

Long Beach, California was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, primarily the Tongva (also known as Gabrielino) whose area included Long Beach and the entire Los Angeles Basin, as well as the southern Channel Islands. The area was later colonized by Spanish explorers in the 1500s. The land that would become Long Beach was part of two large Spanish land grants in the late 18th century - Rancho Los Cerritos and Rancho Los Alamitos.

The city's modern development began in the 1880s when William Wilmore established the first homes and school in what he called Wilmore City. In 1888, residents voted to incorporate and rename the growing settlement Long Beach, after its expansive shoreline. So you’re saying there’s a “long beach” here, eh? Clever.

Long Beach experienced rapid growth in the early 20th century, becoming the fastest growing city in the U.S. from 1902 to 1910. The introduction of the Pacific Electric trolley in 1902 helped fuel this boom by connecting Long Beach to Los Angeles. The 1920s brought major changes with the discovery of oil in 1921. This triggered a construction boom downtown and established Long Beach as both a seaside resort and industrial center. The city's famous Pike amusement zone along the waterfront became a popular attraction during this era.

Long Beach's growth was temporarily halted by a devastating 6.4 magnitude earthquake in 1933 that caused extensive damage. However, the city rebounded and continued developing in the following decades. During World War II, Long Beach became an important center for naval and aerospace manufacturing.

The post-war years saw Long Beach embark on major redevelopment efforts. In 1967, the city purchased the retired ocean liner Queen Mary as a tourist attraction and hotel. It’s reportedly haunted, so if you decide to stay the night in one of her staterooms, consider yourself warned! Long Beach is also home to the world's largest free-span aluminum geodesic dome. Originally built to house Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose, it now serves as the Long Beach Cruise Terminal. The 1970s and 80s brought the construction of the Long Beach Convention Center, Shoreline Village, and other waterfront developments.

Today, Long Beach is a vibrant, diverse city of nearly 500,000 residents. It's home to one of the world's busiest ports, major employers in healthcare and aerospace, and renowned cultural institutions like the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Our Naples walk takes you from the commercial area of Naples, along the Rivo Alto Canal that circles Naples Island (where you might see a gondola or two!), over the bridge to Treasure Island, and back again. It’s a relatively short, quiet, picturesque walk in a lesser traveled part of Long Beach.