San Clemente Beach Club
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1927, the San Clemente Beach Club is a Spanish-style recreational building with white stucco walls, handmade red Mexican tile roofs, open pergolas, tiled staircases and a circular turret with a conical tile roof. Two swimming pools sit on its north side, enclosed by a white stucco wall. The club occupies a triangle of land at the northern gateway to San Clemente, with palm-lined walkways and park-like open space. Founder Ole Hanson built it and dedicated it to the city, and it was regarded as one of the best swimming facilities in America. That year it was chosen for United States Olympic swimming team tryouts. The nomination presents it as significant for architecture and community planning, since Hanson required Spanish-style buildings throughout the city, the theme later summed up as the "Spanish Village by the Sea." By the late 1970s the pool had become antiquated and leaky, and renovation aimed to return the structure to its original design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a fine example of San Clemente's Spanish-style architectural heritage and its founding city-planning philosophy. It also records the club's role as a social and recreational center for about 50 years, including its selection in 1927 for U.S. Olympic swimming team tryouts.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 81000164, listed April 9, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Avenida Boca De La Playa, San Clemente |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | April 9, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000164 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Virgil Westbrook; Builder: Ole Hanson |
| Architectural style | Spanish style |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of San Clemente; the pool was closed in summer 1977 due to leakage and a renovation to restore the original design, including pergolas, was under way or planned. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 33.43198, -117.63179 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 81000164.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133331002
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.