Once part of a vibrant seaside neighborhood, a landslide in 1929 caused several homes to fall into the Pacific Ocean. Land movement was measured at around 11 inches a day at its peak. (Side note: Today, the area near Portuguese Bend is moving quickly, damaging the historic Lloyd Wright masterpiece Wayfarer’s Chapel; more on that in a different post.)
The Palos Verdes Peninsula moves pretty regularly, creating beautiful cliffs and coves as the land moves over time. Thankfully, most of the inhabited area is stable, or in a place of minimal movement, but you don’t get cliffs like that unless there’s some geological activity.
This particular 1929 landslide affected a modest but significant area, and took homes, streets, Red Car train tracks, and sidewalks with it into the Ocean, and down the cliffside. Some nearby homes which were unaffected nonetheless had to be moved to new locations nearby. Remains of sidewalks and other features can be seen from the viewing area above called Pacific Overlook, which is a pleasant spot to look up and down the coast, and across to Catalina Island. Now, this area is called “Sunken City” by locals and visitors. While no trespassing is allowed, there are often curious visitors on the site (risking considerable fines), which is only accessible by jumping over (or crawling through) the fence. The remains are pretty interesting to see, with paths, “art,” and great cliffside ocean views.
We often stop by this spot (in the legal area) on motorcycle rides, or weekend runs through Palos Verdes, to see the panoramic views from the Pacific Overlook park area, built just above the landslide site. Nearby spots are Point Fermin Park, Cabrillo Beach Museum, the Fort MacArthur Museum and grounds, and the Korean Friendship Bell park. This little area has some really cool spots for a day trip, or pick one for a quick stop on your way through the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
If you want to go check it out, it’s located at 4087 Bluff Place, San Pedro, CA 90731, just east of Point Fermin Park and Lighthouse.
