Roosevelt Base, Arcade, West Virginia Street, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, CA

Significance: The Roosevelt Base Historic District, constructed in 1940-1943, consists of 11 buildings designed in the International Style with Mediterranean Revival detailing, five structures, and extensive historic landscaping. It is eligible for the National Register for its site planning, landscaping, architectural style, and its Associate Architect Paul Williams, a nationally prominent Los Angeles Afro-American architect. Additionally, the District is significant for its association with the buildup of permanent Naval facilities on the Pacific Coast under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, during the mobilization period preceding the United States' entry into World War II. The Arcade's concrete pillars and gable roof, combining features of the Mediterranean Revival and International Styles, functionally and visually connects the recreation group of buildings 20, 22, and 23. Except for a few alterations, the Arcade has maintained its original function and architectural integrity and beauty.
Survey number: HABS CA-2663-H