Huntington Beach Pier at Sunset, California

Huntington Beach Pier reaches 1,850 feet into the Pacific, making it one of the longest piers on the West Coast. The current concrete structure dates to 1914, replacing an earlier wooden pier destroyed by storms; it's been rebuilt and reinforced several times since, most recently after damage from a 1988 storm. A lifeguard tower near the pier's base serves the city's beach patrol, which was established in the early 20th century as the surrounding area grew into a surfing destination. The pier and its surrounding beach anchor the annual US Open of Surfing, held nearby each summer.

Photo taken in November 2011.