In the late 1800s, as surrounding areas grew at a steady pace, Manhattan Beach remained a tranquil, sparely populated area, inhabited only by those willing to challenge its sand dunes. Captured here in over 200 vintage images is the development, expansion, and transitions of this stretch of land called Manhattan Beach and the indelible impressions made by its earliest settlers.

Originally the land on which today's city of Manhattan Beach is situated was a broad series of sand dunes stretching from Playa del Rey to Redondo Beach. With the arrival of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe...

The small community of Manhattan Beach, located in the county of Los Angeles, is situated on the shore of the Santa Monica Bay. Late in the 1800s, there was little need for law enforcement: this unspoiled terrain along the ocean coastline with its shifting sands, scrub brush, and native wildflowers had yet to be cultivated. By 1912, the sparsely populated area had been incorporated and the city fathers appointed the first peace officer, Fred W. Petway, who was one of three marshals to serve the new town. In 1924, the position of police chief was created with the appointment of Fred Garvin....

A destination for beachgoers for a century, the Manhattan Beach Pier extends 928 feet out over the Pacific with the octagonal "Roundhouse" situated at the far end. Both the pier and Roundhouse have, through the years, come to symbolize this affluent seaside community. The concept for a pier at its present location can be traced to 1898, when the Potencia Townsite Company acquired the land. The first survey map, recorded in 1902, clearly labeled the object at the end of Center Street (now Manhattan Beach Boulevard) as the "Old Iron Pier." The pier has been storm-ravaged, rebuilt, and restored...