A sign sits atop the historic Breakers Hotel in Long Beach, Calif.

In 1928, American aviator Charles Lindbergh was flying through dense fog along the California coast. The sky had turned a heavy white, and Lindbergh was trying not to panic. While searching for a glimpse of safety, an illuminated “B” atop the Breakers Hotel broke through the clouds, guiding him to Long Beach’s shore. Thankful for the homing beacon and exhausted from the harrowing flight, Lindbergh chose to spend the night in that very same hotel, known then as the “crown jewel of the Long Beach skyline.”

The title is certainly fitting for the 14-story marina property. It’s an unmissable part of the Long Beach skyline and has hosted everyone from Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor to WWII soldiers across its 98 years. Now, after endless anticipation, the hotel is ready to reopen next month, reimagining its star-studded charm while honoring Long Beach’s history.

“Old places have souls, made up in part by the people that were there before,” said Adrian Fine, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Conservancy. “It feels like you’re rooted in the place, in the stories. That’s the power of historic places.”

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There’s a lot of history in the tall walls of the Breakers Hotel. Ninety years ago the property boasted an underground arcade, a beauty salon, a barbershop, a cafeteria and Turkish-style bathing and steam room areas, known as hammams. For the Old Hollywood guard, the hotel was a hideaway from the spotlight. Elizabeth Taylor is rumored to have spent her wedding night with Conrad “Nicky” Hilton Jr. at the property, and “Gone With the Wind” star Clark Gable was often seen at the tower dancing, dining and dating. Today, it’s a designated historical monument, a relic of Long Beach’s glitzy (and occasionally shaky) past.

Breakers Hotel, 210 East Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, Calif., 1926.

“This hotel has always had life and vitality, even during difficult times,” said Maureen Leary, director of sales and marketing for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. The hospitality group came on in 2022 to oversee day-to-day operations for the historic building.

— Has Los Angeles quietly become........

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