LONG BEACH AND THE “NEW DEAL”
Buildings and Murals

The Long Beach earthquake affected our city in many ways. Ruined school buildings became great rebuilding projects for the WPA, and many libraries were decorated with beautiful murals.

photo by USGS: John Muir School

One website that chronicles New Deal building and beautification projects in Long Beach is called The Living New Deal. Find it at http://livingnewdeal.org/us/ca/long-beach-ca/. Then explore that site further by accessing http://livingnewdeal.org/?s=Long+Beach+CA to look at murals.

RESEARCH NOTE: Nothing brings home the effect of initial devastation in our city better than articles from our home town newspapers. Reading these issues will bring you closer to your ancestors’ experiences during the 1930s in Long Beach.