National Register of Historic Places

Villa Riviera

Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California
Listed
July 24, 1996
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
96000778

About this property

Villa Riviera is a registered historic building on Ocean Boulevard in the Alamitos Beach neighborhood of Long Beach, California, United States. The building was an "own-your-own" apartment building and each unit was sold fully furnished. In those days, Apartment-Hotels were apartment buildings featuring full service hotel amenities. The Villa Riviera provided maid service, valets, doormen, concierge, and managers on duty to cater to the needs of residents. The Villa Riviera was completed, and the owners moved in, by the end of 1928, enjoying a grand opening party January 1929. From the time of its completion in 1928 through to 1955, it was the second-tallest building, and the tallest private building, in Southern California. The 16-story Châteauesque building has been called the city's "most elegant landmark" and a building that "has helped define the city." The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 and is currently used as condominiums with approximately 134 units, including three penthouse apartments occupying the areas on the 15th and 16th floors of the building, complete with grotesques outside the 16th floor windows.

Location

800 E. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California
33.76643, -118.18259

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Nearby Historic Sites

Cooper Arms
Industrial
0.3 mi
Middough Brothers-Insurance Exchange Building
Industrial
0.5 mi
Security Trust and Savings Building
Industrial
0.6 mi
First National Bank of Long Beach
Industrial
0.6 mi
US Post Office-Long Beach Main
Industrial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Drum Barracks – Los Angeles Union Garrison
1862Civil War
4.2 mi
Battle of Dominguez Rancho
1846Mexican-American War
7.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Villa Riviera listed on the National Register?

Villa Riviera was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1996.

What type of historic resource is Villa Riviera?

Villa Riviera is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Villa Riviera?

The period of significance for Villa Riviera is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Villa Riviera?

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