Past Exhibitions

To mark the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women in America the right to vote, our exhibition explores the history of the local, state, and national suffrage movements.

The exhibition displays photographs and artifacts from local women’s clubs along with contemporary illustrations from publications such as Puch.

This exhibition is a visual exploration by Michael Murphy and Jens Lucking. It provides a unique opportunity to view the original photographs, plans, and drawings that Charles Looff created to solicit investment and other support for his popular new pier.

To illustrate the Route’s history, the exhibition features artifacts such as early driving guides, iconic signage and ephemera, and historic photographs from the Santa Monica History Museum Collection.

The Santa Monica Public Library and the Santa Monica History Museum have partnered to give viewers a peek into the extensive photographic archives of each institution. Each houses a diverse selection of photographers and subjects that capture the rich history of the Santa Monica Bay area.

This exhibition presents the early history of the airport and its development over the years. Photographs of the World Cruisers, Amelia Earhart, and Douglas employees and artifacts of Douglas Aircraft plane parts, radios, and flight suits are on display.

What did Santa Monica look like in 1902? As a child, local resident Michael Murphy found the answer in a Santa Monica Fire Department photography book of local buildings.