Oral History Stories told by local residents
What is Oral History? Oral history is a field of study and a method of gathering, preserving and interpreting the voices and memories of people, communities, and participants in past events. Oral history is both the oldest type of historical inquiry, predating the written word, and one of the most modern, initiated with tape recorders in the 1940s and now using 21st-century digital technologies. (Defined by oralhistory.org )
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Listen to Santa Monica History
Ted Tanaka – A local businessman, Ted shares memories of life as a Japanese American during World War II. Ted also participated in our Throwback Thursdays lecture series
Harold Dunnigan – Longtime Santa Monica resident and lifeguard, Harold, shares memories of his 1940s childhood in Santa Monica.
Online Exhibitions
The History of Muscle Beach: The physical fitness boom
Muscle Beach refers to the exclusive Santa Monica location of the birthplace of the physical fitness boom
The History of the Miramar: A symbol of hospitality
For generations, the Miramar along Ocean Ave. has been a symbol of hospitality extended to Santa Monica’s visitors.
