History of Long Beach, California, USA

The City of Long Beach was incorporated in 1897

1909 - Baby Incubator Kills Child.
A baby incubator proved fatal to the two-months-old infant of Richard De Spain, a young inventor of Long Beach, Cal. Soon after the baby had been placed in the incubator a cork blew out of a hot water bottle and the baby was scalded to death.
Adams County News
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
May 22, 1909

1912 - NOTED BIRDMAN LOSES LIFE AT AVIATION MEET. AVIATOR CALBRAITH P. RODGERS, OF TRANSCONTINENTAL FAME, WAS DASHED INTO WATER YESTERDAY AT LONG BEACH. WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE "THE DIP".
BIPLANE CARRIED UNFORTUNATE MAN BENEATH THE WATER IN PRESENCE OF MANY THOUSAND PEOPLE.

Long Beach, April 3. - Aviator CALBRAITH PERRY RODGERS was killed here this afternoon, while attempting to make the "dip" in his biplane. The machine, instead of answering to the control at the proper moment, dashed into the water within a few feet of the pier and carried the unfortunate birdman to the bottom in view of the many thousand spectators who were present to witness the exhibition flight.

The biplane was seriously damaged by the impact with the water, and when finally raised, it was found that RODGERS had been caught in the framework in such a manner that he could not extricate himself in time to prevent drowning.

RODGERS was rated as one of the most daring and expert fliers in the country and gained nation-wide prominence in his transcontinental flight.
Fairbanks Daily Times
Fairbanks, Alaska
April 4, 1912

1913 - 400 FALL AS PIER CRASHES; 33 DIE. CALIFORNIA CROWD PLUNGES FORTY FEET TO GROUND AS BEACH STRUCTURE COLLAPSES. 200 PERSONS ARE INJURED.
THRONG OF 25,000 THROWN INTO WILD PANIC AFTER DISASTER NEAR LOS ANGELES.

MOST OF VICTIMS WOMEN.

Tragedy Occurs at Celebration of "Empire Day" In Honor of Queen Victoria's Anniversary.

Special to The New York Times.
Long Beach, Cal., May 24 - While 10,000 persons were massed on a double-deck pier in front of the City Auditorium to-day, celebrating "British Empire Day," a section of the upper floor gave way and 400 were plunged to the beach, forty feet below. Those on the top deck fell upon the hundreds crowded on the lower deck, and all were dashed down a chute of shattered woodwork to the tide-washed sands.

Thirty-three persons - mostly women - were killed by the shivered timbers or crushed to death by the falling bodies of companions and friends. Fifty more were seriously injured, while hysteria and fright caused the disabling of scores of others. The total number of injured may reach 200.

A section of the auditorium which went down in the crash was added to the... Read MORE...

1916
Longbeach, a banking city and summer-resort of Los Angeles co., Cal., on the Pacific coast, 20 miles S. of Los Angeles, on the Southern Pacific and the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Rs. Pop. in 1900, 2252.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

1931 - Oil Blast Kills Three
LONG BEACH, Cal., March 1 (AP) - Three oil workers were dead Sunday victims of an oil well gas explosion in the Signal Hill district. The dead were E. H. and H. H. Hanley, brothers, and H. S. Clark.

Dallas Morning News
Dallas, Texas
March 2, 1931

1933 - March 10 - Major earthquake in Long Beach, Calif
1933: A 6.4 earthquake killed 120 people and caused $50 million in damages, Long Beach, California. (The Old Farmer's Almanac www.almanac.com)


2,000 HURT, PROPERTY LOSS UP TO 35 MILLION.
LONG BEACH IS HARDEST HIT BY SERIES OF 23 SEVERE SHOCKS.
NIGHT OF TERROR IN LOS ANGELES.
RELIEF SITUATION NOW WELL IN HAND; NAVY AND MARINES HELP.

Bulletin:
Seattle, Wash., Mar. 11 (AP) - An earthquake, described by University of Washington scientists as being "stronger than any of the previous during the last 24 hours" was recorded on the university seismograph at 11:53 a.m. today.

Bulletin:
Los Angeles, Mar. 11 (AP) - The unofficial death toll in the earthquake which shook southern California yesterday and today went up to 140 this morning as additional bodies were found. About 2,000 were estimated to have been injured and the damage was placed by relief agencies at approximately $35,000,000.

Long Beach, on the coast near Los Angeles, was the hardest hit. The dead there totaled 74 ... Read MORE...

1933 - 7 Are Dead, 19 Missing In Refinery Explosion In Signal Hills Field
Blast Rocks Long Beach, Previous Sufferer From Earthquake, and Is Felt 30 Miles Away.

LONG BEACH, Cal., June 2 (AP). - Seven persons were burned to death, nineteen were treated at hospitals for injuries and ten others are missing following a terrific explosion Friday in the Meader absorption plant of the Richfield Oil Company in the Signal Hill field near here.

The blast, which rocked the city and destroyed homes in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, was felt for thirty miles around and plate-glass windows were shattered as far away as three miles.

Fire fighters brought the resulting blaze under control four hours after the first of two blasts. They estimated damage around $350,000.

There were two explosions. The first, a minor blast, was believed to have been in one of the compressors. The gas released from high pressure shot thirty feet into the air and was ignited by the blazing boilers of the D'Angei Oil Company rig near by, bringing about the second, two minutes... Read MORE...

1947 - November 2 - In Long Beach, California, the designer and airplane pilot Howard Hughes carries out the one and only flight of the Hughes H - 1 Hercules seaplane,
the largest fixed-wing aircraft ever built and flown. This flight only lasted eight minutes.
wikipedia.org
November 2, 1947

January 10, 1949 - Long Beach received one inch of snow.

WeatherForYou.com

Here's a mix of places to visit and things to do in Long Beach:
The Queen Mary: Start your Long Beach adventure by exploring this iconic ocean liner. It's not just a ship; it's a floating hotel with a rich history. You can take tours to learn about its past and even stay overnight.

Long Beach Waterfront: Take a stroll along the waterfront and enjoy the scenic views. You'll find shops, restaurants, and attractions like Shoreline Village, where you can shop for souvenirs or enjoy a meal with a view.

Aquarium of the Pacific: This is one of the most popular aquariums in Southern California. It's home to a diverse range of marine life, including sharks, penguins, and colorful coral reefs. The interactive exhibits make it a great spot for families.

Belmont Shore: Head to this charming coastal community for a laid-back atmosphere. Belmont Shore's Second Street is lined with boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. It's a great place to explore on foot or by bike.

Naples Island: Experience a taste of Italy in Long Beach by visiting Naples... Read MORE...