History
In 1985, the Recreation and Parks Department began the renovation process of a small open space area near an existing pier on the south end of the Embarcadero. This new park space, dedicated to the memory of all mariners lost at sea, would become a visitor serving area with pier / water access, picnic benches, and breath taking views of the bay.
Ernest Skinner Pierce
Around this same time a local family was in search of a location in Morro Bay for a memorial to the late Ernest Skinner Pierce. Skinner lived his entire life in Morro Bay and loved the area. He and his family had great ties to the area as one of the pioneers in abalone business. Unfortunately, in 1983, Ernest was killed several miles north of Morro Bay on Highway 1 in one of California's largest landslides in its history.