Victoria Beach Pirate Tower
Victoria Beach Pirate Tower | |
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General information | |
Architectural style | Norman[1] |
Location | Victoria Beach, Laguna Beach, CA |
Coordinates | 33°31′14″N 117°45′52″W / 33.5206°N 117.7645°W |
Year(s) built | 1926 |
Height | 60 ft (18 m) |
Technical details | |
Material | Concrete and stone |
The Victoria Beach Pirate Tower is a historic 60 ft (18 m) tower in Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach, California. It was built in 1926 and is currently locked from entry.[2] It is inaccessible during high tide.[3]
History
The building was constructed in 1926 and was originally used as a staircase to the beach by William Edward Brown. He was a representative of
Brown sold the house to a retired naval captain, Harold Kendrick, in the early 1940s. Kendrick was a pirate fanatic and invited children over for games and sea stories while dressed in pirate clothing. He held scavenger hunts and puzzles in which the winner would receive "cold cash" — a handful of refrigerated change.[2] The house has changed owners a few times since, being bought at one point by actress Bette Midler. In 2012, a city inspector found that the tower's shingle roof was degrading and was starting to crack the exterior plaster.[5]
Features
The tower is primarily made from concrete, with its base being constructed from ocean stones. The roof is conical and shingled. There are a few rectangular window openings dispersed irregularly. The staircase inside the tower is wooden.[1] The tower can be accessed through a staircase to the beach from the road.[6]
References
- ^ a b Les, Kathleen. "Laguna Beach Historic Register". Archived from the original on 2015-04-05. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
- ^ a b Bramucci, Steve (2015-03-13). "The Victoria Beach Pirate Tower". Visit Laguna Beach. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
- ^ a b "Visit Pirate Tower, a Castle along the coast of Victoria Beach". Hidden California. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
- ^ Colbeck, Doug (2023-01-07). "The Mysterious Tower of Laguna Beach". California Beaches. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
- ^ a b Ferguson, Brandon (2012-04-16). "Mysteries of Laguna: The Pirate Tower of Victoria Beach – OC Weekly". OC Weekly. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
- ^ "Victoria Beach Pirate Tower: What to Expect (2023)". Orange County Insiders. Retrieved 2024-02-04.