Landmark Hermosa: Mission Bell

A mission bell that sits along Pacific Coast Highway in Hermosa Beach not only commemorates the city’s incorporation in 1907, but also Southern California history.

Starting in 1906, occasional mission bells were suspended along PCH, then known as El Camino Real (Spanish for "the king's highway"), but in the late 1950s the Hermosa Beach bell vanished.

A replica of the bell, made of cast iron, was dedicated in 1997, marking 90 years since the city's incorporation and paying tribute to the El Camino Real.

The so-called "king's highway" dates back to 1769 when California was a Spanish territory, according to the Los Angeles Times. Gen. Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra traveled from Baja California to San Francisco to establish a string of Spanish missions, the Times has reported.

That route reportedly became a known trail for explorers and settlers, named in honor of the king that Portola had served. The path later evolved into a highway.

Hermosa's mission bell that represents this history was funded by proceeds from a 1976 bicentennial coin sale, as well as the , Woman's Club, and .

A sign on the bell reads:

"Hopefully this bell will enjoy a quiescent life and remind local residents and travelers alike of the historical heritage of our area."

Do you know more about the mission bell in Hermosa Beach and its history?

No one was able to correctly guess today's Landmark Hermosa, but don't worry—we'll have a new trivia next week.