The founders of San Clemente built the San Clemente pier as an attraction to the people coming to buy lots in the new master-planned community.
The founders of San Clemente built the San Clemente pier as an attraction to the people coming to buy lots in the new master-planned community. Ole Hanson was the visionary of the founding group that planned on creating a town with everything needed for a great lifestyle including the pier and other public buildings; a community pool and the downtown hotel.
Popularity Stirs Need for Beach Lifeguards
San Clemente beaches had become such a huge tourist attraction by 1931, that the city council voted to approve the first beach lifeguard service to help prevent any drownings. Just south of the pier was the first lifeguard observation tower which was finished in 1938. This was the legendary Tower 1 on which lifeguards had to climb a ladder over 20 ft. high in order to see the other side of the pier and to assure the safety of the swimmers. Over the years, Tower 1 was replaced many times and was always the busiest tower on the beach…