In the late 1800s, Santa Monica served as the Port of Los Angeles and the California Incline was just an unpave road leading to the beach. At the foot of the grade it met a railroad track that made it's way past city hall, through the McClure Tunnel and then north tracing the route of Pacific Coast Highway to what's known today as Will Rogers Beach. A mammoth pier then carried tracks 4900 feet over Santa Monica Bay into deeper waters. At the structure's bayside end were 6 sets of rails, several warehouses, passenger and crew facilities and coal bunkers sharing a wharf 130 feet wide by 1600 feet long. Able to service 3 large vessels at once, it's reign as the world's longest and largest pier did not last long. In 1899, Los Angeles decided to build a new port in San Pedro. The long warf remained as a big fishing and pleasure pier but fell into disrepair. After damaging winter storms, it was shortened by half in 1916 and finally removed completely in 1924. Consider how different today's view might have been had the Port of Los Angeles remained in Santa Monica Bay. This painting is based on an antique photo. The stray penguin and post-Victorian ladies riding a horseless carraige were added just for fun.