This California Neighborhood Slid into the Pacific in 1929 – It’s Now a Cliffside Graffiti Paradise

Sunken City, Los Angeles

A massive landslide on January 2, 1929, created what we now call Sunken City at the southern edge of San Pedro, Los Angeles. This neighborhood once had beautiful homes along the beach until the ground started moving 11 inches every day.

Workers used railroad tracks and mules to save most houses, but six buildings and parts of three streets fell into the ocean. Now, this 6-acre area contains broken house foundations and sidewalks covered in graffiti, all sitting on top of a 120-foot cliff above the Pacific.

The site sits next to Point Fermin Park, and while it’s closed to the public for safety reasons, many photographers and curious visitors still come to see what they call “California’s Atlantis.”

It’s Still Sliding into the Ocean

The ground under Sunken City formed millions of years ago during the Pleistocene period. The whole area sits on old seafloor sediments and Altamira shale rock, which turns slippery when water seeps into it. The coastline keeps changing as waves erode the cliffs, which still move about 4.3 inches every year according to recent measurements.

It’s a Popular Filming Location

Film crews have shot more than two dozen movies and TV shows at Sunken City since 1954. The broken concrete, ocean views, and twisted metal make a perfect backdrop for science fiction and crime shows. Try to catch it when you watch “The Big Lebowski,” it’s where Walter and Dude spread Donny’s ashes.

A Nice Whale Watching Spot

From Sunken City’s cliffs, you can see amazing sea life 120 feet below in the clear blue water. Pacific gray whales swim within 100 yards of the cliffs as they migrate between December and May.

Groups of up to 50 California sea lions gather on the rocks at the bottom of the cliffs when they have their pups. You can often spot bottlenose dolphins swimming in the waves, while brown pelicans dive for fish in the seaweed forests below.

Ancient Traces Under Modern Ruins

Archaeologists have found evidence that Native Americans lived here 2,500 years ago. They’ve discovered piles of seashells from abalone, mussels, and scallops, along with stone tools left by the Tongva people.

These items show how the Tongva lived by the ocean and traded with other groups. Sometimes when small landslides happen, they uncover new artifacts, though many wash away with the eroding cliffs.

Street Art on the Concrete Canvas

Artists have turned the remaining concrete structures into a huge outdoor art gallery that covers more than 300 feet of vertical space. The artwork changes every few months as new artists paint over old pieces. The salty ocean air and exposure to weather means paintings only last a few years.

Where Emergency Teams Practice Rescues

Since 1986, firefighters have used Sunken City’s difficult terrain to practice rescue operations. They come here monthly to learn how to rescue people from high cliffs and handle emergencies in dangerous places. The mix of loose ground, 120-foot cliffs, and broken concrete helps rescue teams prepare for real emergencies along the coast.

Photos That Tell the Story

A collection of photos that shows how Sunken City has changed over the years. The pictures range from 1929 newspaper photos to modern drone shots.

Aerial photos taken every decade show the coastline moving back about 3 feet each year. The collection includes rare color photos from the 1940s that show the original paint on remaining structures and early graffiti.

How the Site Shaped Local Culture

Sunken City appears in many local paintings, poems, and stories written since 1929. The San Pedro Fine Arts Association keeps several paintings of the site in their permanent collection.

Writers often use the ruins as a way to talk about how nature is stronger than human construction. About thousands of people visit each year to view the site from nearby Point Fermin Park.

Home to Local Wildlife

More than 50 types of birds and small animals now live in Sunken City. Hawks and falcons nest high in the cliffs, while lizards sun themselves on broken concrete. Rabbits, squirrels, and mice live in spaces between the ruins.

Scientists have counted fourteen different kinds of butterflies here, including the rare Palos Verdes Blue. Birds migrating along the Pacific coast often stop here to rest, drawn by the plants, water seeps, and varied landscape.