The Best of Long Beach—

Historic Landmarks to Experience in Long Beach

Long Beach’s history isn’t confined to plaques and old photographs.

From grand oceanfront hotels and historic ranchos to neighborhood theaters and remarkable public art, the city offers places where you can step inside, get close to the details and experience the stories for yourself.

QUEEN MARY

Step aboard the Queen Mary (1126 Queens Hwy) to explore its elegant Art Deco interiors and engineering marvels that reveal the ship’s remarkable past. Launched in 1934, it carried Hollywood stars, prime ministers, wealthy travelers and more than 800,000 military personnel during World War II before making Long Beach its permanent home in 1967. Tours delve into the ship’s storied past, from its wartime service to its famously haunted reputation, and you can even spend the night aboard. Visit the Observation Bar on Tuesdays for Meet Me at the Mary, with live music and drink specials, or enjoy the Royal Sunday Brunch, a Long Beach tradition featuring more than 50 international dishes and live entertainment in the elegant Grand Salon.

BATTLESHIP IOWA

Commissioned in 1943, the Battleship IOWA (250 S Harbor Blvd, San Pedro) played a pivotal role in World War II, escorting President Franklin D. Roosevelt across the Atlantic to meet Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin at the Tehran Conference. Today, visitors can explore the massive warship’s decks, crew quarters, command center and formidable 16-inch guns. Specialized tours offer a closer look at the engineering behind one of the most powerful battleships ever built. The Presidents Tour explores the ship’s connections to five U.S. presidents, earning it the nickname “Battleship of Presidents.”

ART THEATRE

Catch a movie and a century of local history at the Art Theatre (2025 E 4th St), a landmark on Long Beach’s Retro Row. Originally opened in 1925 as the Carter Theatre, this neighborhood favorite has survived earthquakes, changing moviegoing habits and generations of reinvention. Its distinctive architecture reflects the Streamline Moderne redesign that followed the devastating 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Today, the theater celebrates cinema in all its forms, screening independent, international, documentary and classic films. Settle into a seat and enjoy a cinematic experience that connects the city’s past with its creative present.

LONG BEACH AIRPORT MOSAICS

You don’t need a boarding pass to discover one of America’s most remarkable works of public art. The original Long Beach Airport terminal (4100 Donald Douglas Dr), opened in 1942, is a landmark of early modern architecture, but its artistic treasures lie underfoot. Created by artist Grace Clements for the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project, the intricate mosaics feature approximately 1.6 million hand-cut tiles–yes, million–depicting aviation, transportation and the zodiac. Once hidden beneath carpeting, these restored masterpieces are a significant legacy of American public art. Free to visit during regular terminal hours, the mosaics invite a scavenger hunt to spot all nine sections.

DOWNTOWN ARCHITECTURE

Downtown Long Beach is an open-air showcase of architectural history, with distinctive landmarks revealing the city’s evolution through the decades. Admire the elegant Fairmont Breakers (201 E Ocean Blvd), the Gothic-inspired Villa Riviera (800 E Ocean Blvd.) and the ornate Farmers & Merchants Bank Building (302 Pine Ave). The historic Main Post Office and beautifully preserved Bembridge House offer more glimpses into the past. For a deeper dive, Long Beach Heritage hosts regular Saturday morning walking tours highlighting historic districts, architectural gems and the people who shaped the city. Look beyond the main streets, and you’ll find history around nearly every corner.

RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS

Step into centuries of California history at Rancho Los Alamitos (6400 E Bixby Hill Rd), where a historic ranch house, lush gardens, barns and a working barnyard tell the story of a changing landscape. The site sits on land associated with an ancient Indigenous Tongva village, connecting visitors to the region’s Native history long before Spanish colonization and the era of ranching. Explore the historic buildings, wander the gardens and meet the resident barnyard animals. More than a preserved property, Rancho Los Alamitos offers a glimpse into the people, cultures and agricultural traditions that helped shape the Long Beach area.

RANCHO LOS CERRITOS

Discover the roots of early California at Rancho Los Cerritos (4600 Virginia Rd.), a historic site centered on an 1840s adobe home. Once the heart of a sprawling cattle ranch, the property offers a window into the region’s transformation from Mexican ranching territory to American settlement. Explore period-furnished rooms, stroll through landscaped gardens and learn how cattle, land and commerce shaped daily life in early California. The preserved adobe and surrounding grounds bring this history to life, connecting visitors with the people and industries that helped establish the communities that would eventually become modern Long Beach and its neighboring cities.

Author

Steve Lowery
Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.

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