Permanent Exhibitions

Explore the history of Santa Monica by experiencing our permanent exhibits and uniquely curated rotating exhibitions examining the rich, diverse history of the Santa Monica Bay area.

Our permanent exhibition galleries are easily shared with school-aged children, residents and tourists. Each providing specific and relevant stories of Santa Monica over time, enhanced with artifacts, fabricated environments, interactive exhibits, audio/video programs and graphic and photographic panels.

The Old Santa Monica Room

The Tongva
Explore the history of the city’s native people

An introductory time line provides visitors with an orientation and framework from which to view the rest of the exhibition. The time line contains artifacts in cases, photos, text and graphics, which trace the origins and inhabitants of Santa Monica from the earliest Native Americans through the 1930s. Content in this center exhibit focuses on the history leading up to the founding of the city and into its early developments, leveraging real artifacts to help tell important stories.

EXPLORE more Santa Monica history and the people that made an impact.

A Town in the News

The Outlook Newspaper
Explore the history of Santa Monica’s local newspaper

Have you ever wanted to see yourself on the front page of the newspaper? With our interactive exhibit, your picture is taken and placed into one of five front page stories of The Outlook newspaper and printed for you to keep.

The Outlook was Santa Monica’s oldest local newspaper. The first issue was published on October 13, 1875 and the last on March 14, 1998. Discover more about this local paper and see several artifacts from the printing process.

DISCOVER more from our Outlook Collection of historical photographs.

Take a tour of A Town in the News

A Town in the Arts

Santa Monica’s Creativity
Explore the city’s rich and compelling contributions to American cultural life

Santa Monica evolved as an artistic community, beginning with early photographers capturing the beauty of the landscape. Our “Then & Now” images allow a simple and immediate understanding and experience of how Santa Monica’s landscape has evolved. Visitors compare the visual impacts to the landscape by interacting with the touch screen map of Santa Monica and select a specific location, activating a video screen that shows the history of that location and how it has developed.

EXPERIENCE our online THEN & NOW and come in to try our History Happend Here table.

A Town at Play

The Celebrated Beach
Explore what has made the beach a destination spot

Fun-seekers have flocked to Santa Monica Beach over the years to play in the sand and on its amusement piers, plunge into salt water baths or simply stroll the boardwalk.

The Ocean Park Pier and the surrounding landscapes are often seen in tv and films such as Lawrence Welk variety show or Robert Redford’s film The Sting. Musicians from the Beach Boys to Cirque de Soleil performers are attracted to Santa Monica.

EXPLORE artifacts from the giant sea horse of the entrance to P.O.P, to the barbell used by wrestler Baron Michele Leone, known as “The Baron”.

Take a tour of A Town at Play

Donald Douglas

Donald Douglas Aircraft
Explore a replica interior of a Douglas Aircraft

The production of airplanes was a focal point of life in Santa Monica during World War II. Aircraft manufacturer, Douglas Aircraft Company, setup shop in Santa Monica in 1921.

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain, a military transport plane was a significant plane used extensively by the Allies to convey troops, cargo and the wounded.

A diorama of graphics, photos and artifacts on either side of the plane tell the stories of those who were a part of the creation of Douglas’ aircraft.

EXPERIENCE being inside a replica of the Douglas C-47 Skytrain middle section

Browse our Douglas Collection

A Town at Work

A City Grows & Thrives
Explore Santa Monica’s independent spirit

Santa Monica reached its full potential as an international resort destination and a home for innovation and creativity.

Meet the individuals whose cutting-edge ideas left an indelible mark on the city. Some well-known establishments still thrive today like Hot Dog on a Stick, located on the strand at the South side of the pier, while others are still known in spirit – DogTown.

Then & Now

Explore the online version of our interactive exhibit, featuring images of the city and how it looked – then and now.
Move the slider left or right to compare images.