Sunday, July 06, 2008

The World's Largest Salt Water Plunge

This 1916 postcard proclaims the Redondo Beach Bath House the world's largest salt water plunge. Four-stories high and Moorish in style, it housed three pools heated by Pacific Light and Power's steam plant (originally built to generate electricity for the Red Cars). A tower, two diving boards, and a trapeze were features of the large main pool. It was located on the beach, between the ends of the Horseshoe Pier, where a parking structure stands today. Henry Huntington built the plunge in 1909 with steam and Turkish baths and more than 1,000 dressing rooms. The complex could accommodate 2,000 bathers at a time. For more than 30 years the plunge was a major West Coast attraction. I believe the bath house was torn down in 1942 or 1943.

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