Hands on History

Historian Elsa Devienne will present her new book “Sand Rush: The Revival of the Beach in Twentieth-Century Los Angeles” at the Santa Monica History Museum on Saturday, May 11, at 2:00 PM

Drawing from historical archives, anthropology, and cultural artifacts, Devienne showcases the beach’s pivotal role in urban history and its impact on issues such as real estate, race, environmental conservation, and modern beauty standards.

The book explores the formation of a “beach lobby” in the 1930s, which spearheaded efforts to reclaim and clean the beaches, paving the way for their modernization as havens for a mostly white, heterosexual middle class. Devienne also examines the cultural significance of Muscle Beach and the rise of surf culture, which helped shape Hollywood’s portrayal of physical beauty and leisure.

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This month we will be learning about the trolleys of Santa Monica

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This Hands on History workshop will explore the history of the Chinese American community in Santa Monica and Southern California, including the celebration of Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year, or the lunar New Year, begins on January 28, 2017. 2017 will be a year of the rooster.

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When Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola set up a camp for his party to rest near modern-day Santa Monica in 1769, this area was populated by the Tongva Gabrielino Native Americans. During this Hands on History workshop participants will learn more about the original inhabitants of this area and what their daily life was like.

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This month experience the newly opened special exhibit detailing the history of the Old Soldiers’ Home including photographs and artifacts that help tell the story of veterans in this area.

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The theme of this workshop will be Pacific Ocean Park, in operation from 1958 to 1967.

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