Charles and Willa Bruce, a black couple, moved to California from New Mexico with their son Harvey

In 1912 they bought land on Manhattan Beach and opened a resort along a then-undeveloped stretch 

The resort was one of the first to welcome African Americans to the coast to swim, eat, dance and sunbathe

In 1924 city officials seized two dozen properties through eminent domain and said that a park would be built

The Bruces fought the city in court, lost, and left the area: the proposed park was not built for decades

On Friday Los Angeles County officials announced the land was being returned to the Bruces' descendants 

The family are yet to say what they will do with the land, which some estimate is worth around $72m