A mid-20th century clock tower in the Port of Los Angeles will likely be newly noticed after recently completed repairs and upgrades, including a state-of-the-art LED lighting system — now capable of changing colors.
The 100-foot-tall landmark at the entry of the port’s West Basin, in Wilmington, was familiar to many crews sailing into the harbor but may have been overlooked over the years by those onshore.
The tower sits at the south end of the marine terminal at Berths 153-155, where American President Lines opened in 1953.
Original construction on the landmark began in 1950. But the years had taken a toll, though the clock was functioning.
The $2.7 million restoration project, which began in 2021, repaired water damage and structural wear-and-tear. Crews added a new facade, exterior lighting and a modern sound system.
The clock is expected to be illuminated every night, with the capacity for different colors to be used, port officials said.
“The Wilmington Clock Tower is one of many iconic structures at the Port of Los Angeles that showcases our storied history and legacy in the region,” port Executive Director Gene Seroka said in a written statement. “Now restored, the tower again will once again be able to serve as a beacon for residents, visitors and ships coming through our port each year.”
The structure’s exterior lighting will be able to change colors to coordinate with different port and city events. The tower will be visible from several areas in the port’s Main Channel and West Basin, including the Vincent Thomas Bridge, the Los Angeles Cruise Terminal, the Battleship Iowa, Los Angeles Maritime Museum and West Harbor.
When built in the early 1950s, the 8-acre marine terminal featured one of the longest shipping sheds ever constructed — and the port still uses those warehouses.
Beyond the facade and lighting, the tower restoration involved repairing the entire tower wall assembly, including the interior and exterior finish; replacing all the exterior doors, thresholds and interior lights; repairing or replacing exterior windows, sills, balconies and stair threads; installing a new sound system; abating lead and asbestos; finishing work on the stucco and metal; upgrading the plumbing, electrical and wiring systems; and adding a new LED sign that reads “The Port of Los Angeles.”
The clock tower does not have official landmark status in the port but has received an honorable mention in the landmark category.