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Thursday 2pm - 5pm Friday 11am - 5pm Saturday 11am - 5pm Sunday 11am - 5pm

Santa Monica History Museum

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Santa Monica History Museum

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Discover. Explore. Experience. Since 1975. We Are Santa Monica Bay History.

11/03/2026

Rapp's Saloon, located at 1438 Second Street, was built by William Rapp the year Santa Monica was founded in 1875 and 100 years later it was declared City of Santa Monica Designated City Landmark #1 on August 20, 1975. For a period of time it served as the first town hall from May 1887 to January 1889.

This first masonry structure in the city, in Victorian Italianate style, is the oldest surviving brick building. Spencer & Pugh, Bricklayers, did the construction.

Outlook Collection (1998.1.1264), 1964

11/02/2026

Woodlawn cemetery, located at 1847 14th Street, was purchased by the city of Santa Monica in 1897. Many Hollywood stars and political figures are buried at the cemetery such as Cartoonist Elzie Crisler "E.C." Segar well known for Popyeye comics.

The altars built by local schools for Dia de los Mu***os are still available for viewing in our museum lobby through Nov 7th.

Bill Beebe Collection (3.2.984), undated

10/30/2026

Were you excited to get a color TV? Beauty Queen Miss Wahini poses with a young woman and man for a Motorola Quasar TV promotion at Engle's TV store. Engle's Television Sales and Service was located at 800 14th St. (at the corner of 14th and Montana) in Santa Monica. The display behind the woman reads "Motorola Quasar - Transistor color TV with the works in the drawer."

Saturday cartoons never looked better on a color TV, right?

Bill Beebe Collection (3.2.10219), 1969

10/29/2026

Come check out our Día de los Mu***os merchandse. We have greeting cards, journal and figurines. Only available in our Museum Shop at the museum. We're open Thu 2pm-5pm and Fri-Sun 11am-5pm

10/29/2026

circa 1840s, Pascual Marquez family cemetery at the site of the family house on San Lorenzo Street in Santa Monica Canyon. Members of the Marquez and Ruiz families are buried here. In 1916, Pascual Marquez was the last person to be buried in the cemetery. Photograph inscribed: "A bit of The Old Graveyard, Santa Monica."

Today (Oct 29th) is the first day for viewing altars presented by local schools to honor their loved ones for Dia de los Mu***os.

We're open Thur 2pm-5pm and Fri-Sun 11am-5pm

10/28/2026

Did you know there was a caravan from Santa Monica to New York and back to Santa Monica?

Sylvester (Syl) MacDowell and Warren Fryer co-piloted the lead caravan car that departed June 20th, 1923 and arrived in NY a few weeks later. It departed from Columbus Circle in New York on September 10th, 1923, and arrived in Santa Monica on October 15th, 1923.

The publicity trip was sponsored by the Santa Monica-Ocean Park Chamber of Commerce to promote the city.

Sylvester MacDowell Collection (2018.6.29), 1923

Read more about the "Santa Monica Caravan" and view several more images in our archives:
https://santamonicahistory.catalogaccess.com/search?search=%22Santa+Monica+Caravan%22

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!
Speaking of traveling, join us for the opening night of our new exhibition, Creating Route 66 on November 12th.
https://santamonicahistory.org/exhibitions/creating-route66

10/27/2026

Join us at the museum for food, drink and the opening celebration of our newest exhibition on the history of Route 66, the iconic 2,448-mile highway which ends, of course, in Santa Monica

https://santamonicahistory.org/exhibitions/creating-route-66

10/27/2026

It's National Book Month and here's our volunteer pick: Signs of Santa Monica 📚📖 This book and others are available to purchase online or in our Museum Shop.

There are lots of great signs in Santa Monica from Mel's diner to Rae's to Zucky's to name a few. This book is full of great images and history on these locations plus so much more.

This image is one of many images of signs available as reprints in our online shop and many more options available in our online archives!
https://santamonicahistory.org/product-tag/signs-of-santa-monica/

Bill Beebe Collection (3.2.4152), 1945 - Bundy Theater

10/26/2026

The Santa Monica Hotel, the first one built in downtown Santa Monica. The hotel was constructed on Ocean Avenue between Railroad Avenue (now Colorado Avenue) and Utah Avenue (now Broadway) in 1875 as housing for workers who were constructing the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad. The hotel burned down January 15, 1889.

Berry Collection (245.2.12), late 1800s - people on front deck
Santa Monica History Museum Collection (36.2.3263), 1880s - horse in front

10/23/2026

The Surf Auto Hotel was located at 1704 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, roughly were the Regent currently is.

We do not have much info about this hotel. Help us out if you know anything.

In this 1940 image, there appears to be workers painting the exterior of the building.

Bill Beebe Collection (3.2.856), 1940

Address

1350 7th Street
Santa Monica, CA
90401

Opening Hours

Thursday	2pm - 5pm
Friday	11am - 5pm
Saturday	11am - 5pm
Sunday	11am - 5pm

Telephone

+13103952290

Website

https://santamonicahistory.org/, https://santamonicahistory.org/membership, https://santamonicahistory.org/donate, https

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