Tale of Glass Beach

Sometimes one generation's trash is another generation's treasure.

Literally.

This sentiment perfectly describes one of nature's most fascinating corrections of man's mistakes.

Glass Beach, over in Fort Bragg, California, is one of the most unique places in the world.

Instead of cascading ripples of powdery sand, the crystal blue waves crash over small glistening trinkets of rainbow-colored glass.

You see, in the early 20th century, Fort Bragg residents threw their household garbage over the cliffs, onto the beach. It was basically used as the city dump. They discarded glass, appliances, and even cars onto the beautiful shores.

Of course, something like that would be absolutely unheard of today, but back then nobody thought twice about it. Save the ocean? Pffffft. That hippie concept didn't come about until decades later.

Well, in 1967, the city finally realized dumping trash onto a perfectly good beach was a mistake. The North Coast Water Quality Board got involved and closed the beach. Clean-up began.

Over the next several decades, Mother Nature reclaimed the beach. The pounding waves cleansed the beach, wearing down the discarded glass into the small smooth colored trinkets that sparkle on the sunny shores today.

In 2003, the California State Park system purchased the property, after more massive clean-up.

The beach is now a treasure trove for tourists, who flock to the beach to admire its glistening, colorful beauty and (even though it's illegal) steal a glass trinket from underneath their feet as a souvenir.


What are your thoughts on Glass Beach? Have you ever been there? Do you want to go?