Commissioned by real estate developer Abbot Kinney as part of his "Venice of America", the pier was 1,600 ft (490 m) long.

[1] The Ship Cafe was built at the same time,[2] and was originally intended to be a full-service resort "with sleeping apartments, a restaurant, a kitchen, office and all of the appointments of the modern hotel".

[4] The Venice Plunge indoor saltwater swimming pool, which was located around the corner on Ocean Front Walk, had 1,500 dressing rooms at opening.

Along the boardwalk of the pier were approximately 40 concessions and rides including the Ocean Inn,[6] pool hall, bowling alley, merry-go-round, the "Joy Wheel,"[7] the Whip, the Virginia Reel, the Over the Falls, the Captive Aeroplanes,[8] a "pigsty slide with a large number of small animals," the Longworthy fish market, The Steeplechase, Hilarity Hall, a seaplane ride, glassblowers, a Ferris wheel, a shooting gallery, the "Old Mill," the Dipper, and Stimpson's candy shop.

[9] The Venice Pier caught fire on December 20, 1920, just a month after the death of its developer, Abbot Kinney.