Fred E. Basten Santa Monica Bay: The First 100 Years, A pictorial history of Santa Monica, Venice, Ocean Park, Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Malibu, Douglas-West Publishers: Los Angeles, CA, 1974, 227 pp., 1905, 1893, 1888, 1887, 1884, 1857
(On page 11 is a photo of the Santa Monica Bath House taken about 1884 with a half circle of onlookers watching three gymnasts or acrobats.)
"By the spring of 1887, the Santa Fe Railroad had secured a right-of-way between Los Angeles and the mouth of Ballona Creek, four miles south of Santa Monica, and had built two wharves into the surf. By August 1887, "the first train reached La Ballona."
" . . . Jones and Baker were now selling lots near the beach in their Ocean Spray tract (south Santa Monica) . . .
"J.W. Scott, the energetic proprietor of the Santa Monica Hotel (the city's first hotel), had reaped enough . . . to launch a resort on the south side of town where, on the crown of the palisades, he built the grand Arcadia Hotel." p.12
"The Arcadia Hotel, on Ocean Avenue between Railroad Avenue (now Colorado) and Front (now Pico). . . . city's first skyline building. Opened in late 1887. . . Reported (a tabloid) in 1893: "The Arcadia Hotel is a first-class, high-grade resort, built upon the finest hotel site on the coast. To the many thousands of patrons of the past, (note that the past is five years) this famous resort . . . first floor . . . reception parlor and hotel office . . . dining room . . . seats 200. . . . large hall leads to the sitting room and parlor, also the writing, ladies' billard and reading rooms. Directly opposite the main entrance is the elevator which runs to the (2) floors above and two below where the ballroom, a conservatory and other places of accommodation are to be found. On the basement floor access to the beach is made, where hot salt water baths may be enjoyed . . . furnished throughout with gas and electric lights, hot and cold water, bath rooms . . ." (p. 15) (A pier pictured on pages 17 and 21 was constructed.) The Arcadia was forced to close in 1888 for lack of business. p. 24.)
"The stage (coach)'s route is now Washington Boulevard, the earliest road between Los Angeles and Santa Monica." p. 18
[For several years around 1887, people constructed beach shacks on the beach. On page 20 they are referred to as squatters.]
"Frederick Hastings Rindge (1857-1905) purchased the Malibu Rancho in 1887 and was "a founder of the Santa Monica branch of the YMCA that made its home in Ocean Park." He also helped found Union Oil, Southern California Edison and Pacific Mutual." p. 22