UnHoused: A History of Housing in Santa Monica
February 2 – December 15, 2024
From the Ground Up: The Life of Vernon Brunson
February 3 – December 15, 2024
Broadway Augmented Reality Walking Tour
Take an engaging journey through history as you traverse the stretch of Broadway between 20th and 17th streets in Santa Monica using AR Technology.
View Our Permanent Collections
The Tongva
Explore the history of the city’s native people.
The Outlook Newspaper
Explore the history of Santa Monica’s local newspaper.
More Permanent Exhibitions
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.
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.
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.
Pacific Ocean Park (P.O.P.)
Outlook Collection (1998.1.1103)
COLLECTIONS
Historical Photos
Consisting today of over 600,000 prints, negatives, glass-plate negatives and slides, we have one of the most comprehensive collection in existence documenting Santa Monica’s history.
Photo Reprints
Many of our images are available for purchase as a reprint.
