| The Port of Los Angeles, SoCal's gateway to | | | | that location in 1893. L.A. Times administrator Harrison |
| international imports and exports, is situated just 20 | | | | Otis and Senator Stephen White insisted on federal |
| miles from the city center. The burgeoning port not | | | | support of the structure to be built at San Pedro |
| only maintains its competitive edge with innovative | | | | Bay. The issue was resolved when San Pedro was |
| cargo operations, but is renowned for its | | | | certified in 1897 by a government commission. With |
| groundbreaking environmental initiatives, well-known | | | | government support construction started in 1899 and |
| security measures and diverse recreational and | | | | the area was annexed to Los Angeles in 1909. The |
| educational facilities. Also known as the Los Angeles | | | | Harbor Commission was established in 1907. |
| Harbor Department, Port Los Angeles occupies more | | | | In 1911, the Southern Pacific Railroad completed its |
| than 7,500 acres land and water along 42 miles of | | | | first significant wharf at the port. In the 1920s, the |
| waterfront. | | | | port passed San Francisco as the region's busiest |
| The south-facing San Pedro Bay was originally a | | | | port. In WWII the port was primarily used for building |
| shallow mudflat, not solid enough to support a wharf. | | | | ships, employing more than 90,000 workers. The |
| Arriving ships had two options, remaining out at | | | | opening of the Thomas Bridge in 1963 significantly |
| anchor and have their cargo ferried to shore; or | | | | facilitated access to Terminal Island and allowed for |
| beach themselves. Phineas Banning greatly improved | | | | increased traffic and further expansion. |
| shipping when he dredged the channel in 1871 to a | | | | Currently the port is the busiest in the United States |
| depth of 10 feet. The port handled greater than | | | | when measured by container volume, the 8th busiest |
| 55,000 tons of shipping that year. | | | | in the world, and the 5th busiest internationally when |
| After Banning's passing in 1885 his sons continued his | | | | combined with the nearby Long Beach Port. |
| interests in marketing the port, which handled | | | | This year, the top 5 imported materials were |
| 500,000 tons of shipping in that year. The Southern | | | | furniture, apparel, auto parts, toys, and computers. |
| Pacific Railroad desired to create Port Los Angeles at | | | | The top 5 exported goods were soybeans, paper, |
| Santa Monica, and constructed the Long Wharf at | | | | cotton, animal feed and metal scraps. |