Heritage Events and Art Exhibits
About the Hermosa Centennial Mural
Our Story
Mural Creation
Mural Creation
In 2007, the first Hermosa Centennial Mural was unveiled on September 30, 2007. Over the past 18 years the mural faded and in need of an update. After many discussions, it was determined that the mural would be repainted and updated. Several components were added that had been missed in the first version. The new mural reflects of the beautiful history of Hermosa Beach.
Mural Creation
Mural Creation
Mural Creation
Over the past year our mural artist Dawn Whitney-Hall painted in the old Warner Brothers studio offices in San Pedro. Quietly creating each panel one at a time until all ten panels were completed. The panels were then transported to Hermosa Beach and were installed for the January 10, 2026 to be unveiled before city officials, residents, family and friends.
Our Team
Mural Creation
Our Team
Our team is made up of talented and passionate volunteers, artists, builders and producers who share a common goal: to make the world a more beautiful and inspiring place. We're dedicated to our craft, and to bring art and beauty into the world.
Hermosa Mural History
Hill Family
John Hiss settled in Hermosa Beach in the early 1900s. Bringing his family and building skills to the yet to be incorporated city. Hiss built the first school Ocean View School on Prospect. High on the hill the school building still exists near Fort Lots of Fun just around the corner from Hermosa View School.
Early Families
Explore the rich history of the early families who settled in Hermosa Beach. From the Hiss family, who built the first school, to the Mattesons, who established the first bank, each family contributed significantly to the community's development. Learn about their stories and how they shaped the city we know today.
Ralph and Lottie Matteson
The Matteson family on a fine summer day standing on the original Hermosa Beach Pier.Ralph Matteson was a commercial builder who built the first bank at the corner of Pier Avenue and Hermosa Avenue and built the Metropolitan Theater. Many of his buildings still stand not only in Hermosa but throughout the city of Los Angeles
Vetter Windmill
Vetter Windmill
The Vetter Windmill has been standing in Hermosa Beach since 1907. First located on Valley Drive near Pier Avenue it provided water for the extensive flowers fields of Hermosa that used to stretch from Pier Avenue to 21st street. The fields used to grow aster and carnations that sold throughout the city of Los Angeles transported by the freight line that used to run along today's green belt. Vetter Windmill was restored and moved to Greenwood Park on the corner of Aviation and Pacific ic Coast Highway.
Kerwin Family
Vetter Windmill
Kerwin Family
The Kerwin family came to Hermosa Beach opening their family bakery on Pier Avenue. Mary Kerwin married John Hiss son of th first mayor of Hemrosa Beach. The couple then raised eleven children and the entire family lived and worked in the bakery. Many of the Kerwins became the first lifeguards of the city and became early member so the Hermosa Beach Surfing Club. The original building that was the Kerwin Bakery is currently Pallmia Restaurant.
John T. Hales
Vetter Windmill
Kerwin Family
The official seal of the City of Hermosa Beach was designed by graphic designer John T Hales, and adopted by the city in September 1965. Hales painstakingly pieced together the seal together with his son Donald and wife, Lorraine. The seal ingredients included 3,000 pieces of Italian tile with beach pebbles and shells. Sharing his appreciation was Quentin "Boots" Thelen then Mayor of Hermosa Beach. Hales was an avid historian keeping records for many years of Hermosa's civic, city and day to day highlights in binders that are stored in the archives at the Hermosa Museum located at 710 Pier Avenue.
Centennial Mural Inspirations
Discover Hermosa Mural's Art and Design
Insomniac Cafe and Bookstore
The Insomniac Cafe and Bookstore was located on Pier Avenue operated for two years before being closed by the city of Hermosa Beach. The building was torn down and left vacant for many years. It is currently the site of Loreto Plaza. The image that appears on the mural was taken from this photograph taken in the alley behind the Insomnaic .
Dewey Weber
This iconic image of legendary surf champion Dewey Weber was taken by surf legend Leroy Grannis at 22nd Street. The stories of Dewey from a young boy who modeled to become the boy in the Buster Brown shoes. To being a yo-yo champion as teen to becoming one of the most well known surfers of his time . Then began shaping and selling his surfboards out of his shop on Pacific Coast Highway.
Comedy and Magic Club
For the last fifty years Mike Lacey the owner of the Comedy and Magic Club has brought the best comedians of the day to Hermosa Beach. Jay Leno has appeared at the club on Sundays for over thirty years. Robin Williams,Jerry Seinfield, Kevin Neelan to name a few have performed at the club stage over the years as well. Lacey, also has one of the most extensive collections of theatrical posters and costumes.
Loreto
The Hermosa Beach Surfing Club
The Hermosa Beach Surfing Club
The Hermosa Beach Surfing Club
The Hermosa Beach Surfing Club
Punk Music in Hermosa Beach
The Hermosa Beach Surfing Club
The Hermosa Beach Surfing Club
Discover Hermosa Mural's stories
Tongva /Gabrielano Indians
Tongva /Gabrielano Indians
Tongva /Gabrielano Indians
The Tongva (/ˈtɒŋvə/ TONG-və) are an Indigenous people of California .
Tongva is the most widely circulated endonym among the people, used by Narcisa Higuera in 1905 to refer to inhabitants in the vicinity of Mission San Gabriel.Some people who identify as direct lineal descendants[5] of the people advocate the use of their ancestral name Kizh as an endonym.
The Tongva, along with neighboring groups such as the Chumash, played an important role in the cultural and economic dynamics of the region at the time of European encounter. They had developed an extensive trade network through te'aats (plank-built boats). Their food and material culture was based on an Indigenous worldview that positioned humans as one strand in a web of life (as expressed in their creation stories). Over time, different communities came to speak distinct dialects of the Tongva language, part of the Takic subgroup of the Uto-Aztecan language family. There may have been five or more such languages (three on the southernmost Channel Islands and at least two on the mainland)
Shakespeare Beach
Tongva /Gabrielano Indians
Tongva /Gabrielano Indians
Shakespeare Beach was located at the city's northern border with Manhattan Beach, where the Pacific Electric Red Car Line came into the city. When the Shakespeare Tract was divided into parcels,the streets that were created were named after noteworthy English poets and writers. Such as Homer , Longfellow, and Tennyson, to name a few. This was an attempt to create an artists colony in Hermosa Beach.
Pacific Electric Red Car
Tongva /Gabrielano Indians
Pacific Electric Red Car
The Pacific Eletric Car Line ran parallel to the beach down from Marina del Rey, past Playa del Rey, through El Segundo to Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beaches. It was a favorite mode of transportation for the Los Angeles and Hollywood crowds to get to the big resort of Redondo Beach.In 1914, Pacific Electric laid stronger rails for bigger trains. The tracks dividing the northbound and south bound lanes of Hermosa Avenue were pulled out in 1941..
The John R. MacFaden Home
Pacific Electric Red Car
John R. and Moya L. MacFaden had seven children.
The house at 3301 Strand in Hermosa Beach hosted friends of the children, extended family, dignitaries both local and international. The house was rarely quiet.
John R. was a big personality. He and Moya loved to entertain. Throwing numerous parties including the 4th of July parade which included a cannon being shot off every hour on the hour from 8AM to 8PM.
John R. graduated from Redondo Union High School in 1927. He was instrumental in bringing the Olympics back to Los Angeles in 1984.
Warren Miller Family Home
Warren and Dottie Miller based his film company Warren Miller Productions located at 505 Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach for over 40 years. Miller made documentaries about surfing, skiing, snowboarding and other sports and were direct precursors to the rise of extreme sports. Miller's more than 75 feature length films include Skiing a la Carte(1978) and Endless Winter(19955). Known as the "king of sports movie maker," Miller was once described in the Los Angeles Times as a "combination of Jean Claude-Killy, Robert Redford, Ingrid Bergman and Woody Allen". The Millers lived at 3417 The Strand in Hermosa Beach.
Roy and Bunny Seawright
The Seawrights, Roy and Bunny, are seen in silhouette on the beach in 1924. Roy W. Seawright was special effects technician for the movies. Bunny was one of the top female water sports athletes of her day. Roy's special effects work can be seen in Laurel and Hardy films as Babes in Toyland (1934), Way out West (1937) and Saps at Sea (1940), as well as other films like Topper (1937) with Cary Grant, Captain Caution (1940 ) and Victor Mature, and The Big Cat (1949) with Lon McCallister. For three years in a row, Seawright was nominated for an academy award for Best Effects in the following movies: Topper Takes a Trip (1939)One Million Years BC (1940) and Topper Returns (1941) The Seawright's made their home at 2627 The Strand for more than 60 years.
The Mural Signing event-Kiwanis Hall
