Works Progress Administration

The Works Progress Administration, or WPA for short, was a New Deal agency that was founded in 1935 during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency to help mitigate the effects of the Great Depression. Over 8.5 million people in the United States were employed through the WPA, tens of thousands who were artists! Public works projects were the focus of the WPA ushering in construction of much of America’s infrastructure including public buildings, roads, bridges, public parks, and airports. 2,566 murals and 17,744 pieces of sculpture were created nationwide by artists employed through the WPA helping bring art to wider audiences than ever before!

Long Beach is no stranger to the WPA as the agency aided in rebuilding the city after a 6.5 earthquake caused devastating damage all over the city, hitting schools especially hard. California State Legislature quickly enacted the Field Act that created a stricter building code for schools to prevent any future damages. As a result, there has been no damage done to schools nor has there been loss of life due to earthquakes. Architecture and public art in modern-day Long Beach would not have been the same without the earthquake’s impact and aid provided through the WPA as seeking and employing as many local Long Beach artists and architects signals the importance of supporting all local artists during times of collaboration and great need.

This tour will have you embark on a city-wide journey exploring the different architectural styles that make Long Beach unique while highlighting the various mediums used to transform Long Beach into a vibrant arts city. You will be able to see the sleekness of Art Deco in rebuilt schools reflective of the time’s interest with speed, mosaics that depict Long Beach’s history, to murals that express values that encouraged all community members to be the best they can. As local Long Beach historian Maureen Neely explains, “Art and inspiration was printed or designed, ingrained into the buildings to inspire and to encourage students to be better people.”