Long a major attraction for residents and visitors, the first Hermosa Beach Pier was built in 1904 as a wooden trestle structure extending 500 feet into the ocean. Damaged by a storm in 1913, it was replaced the following year with an improved 1,000-foot concrete structure. Although the pier has continued to change in appearance over the years, its stunning views and vistas have remained a source of inspiration for photographers and filmmakers alike. Writer and director Damien Chazelle chose it as the location for a key scene in his multiple Oscar-winning and critically acclaimed film La La Land. Filmed on August 25, 2015, the scene ends with actor Ryan Gosling strolling along the pier and singing a few verses of "City of Stars," marking the debut appearance of the Oscar-winning Best Original Song.
