Past Exhibitions
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Discover what you missed and explore past exhibitions online.
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Coming Out West: LGBTQ+ Elders Share Their Stories
Life and Times of a Vibrant Community | 2022 April 1 - December 23Broadway to Freeway
Life and Times of a Vibrant Community | 2022 April 1 - December 23All is Possible
Women's Suffrage in California | 2020 March 7 - Fall 2020Santa Monica Pleasure Pier
A Look Back to 1917 From Today | 2019 November 5 - February 22California’s Route 66
Hiding in Plain Sight | 2019 June 29 - October 19Light & Shadow
Capturing Early Santa Monica | 2019 March 9 - June 15From Biplanes to Bombers
Santa Monica Airport's First Fifty Years, 1917-1967 | 2018 October 13 - February 23Santa Monica: A Look Back to 1902 from Today
| 2018 May 18 - July 21People of the Earth
Life and Culture of the Tongva | 2018 February 9 - May 5Saint John’s Health Center
75 Years of Healing, Discovery and Service to the Community | 2017 November 17 - January 2770 Years on the Air
KCRW is New as Ever | 2017 May 24 - September 30Shirley Temple: The Depression’s Box Office Doll
| 2017 April 6 - May 13The Journey of Girl Scouts
Empowering Young Women | 2017 January 24 - March 29The Old Soldiers’ Home
A Veterans' Community by the Sea | 2016 October 8 - January 18Shirley Temple: Santa Monica’s Biggest Little Star
| 2016 April 16 - July 1Cupid’s Message
A Selection of Vintage Valentines | 2016 February 2 - 27Love, Shirley Temple
| 2015 June 3, 6pm - 8pmCultural Mecca
50 Years of Entertainment at the SM Civic Auditorium | 2014 October 25 - 2015 January 24Warriors of Flames
125 years of fighting fires in Santa Monica | 2014 June 28 - September 27Life at the Miramar
| 2011 - 2014Marion Davies Estate
Past, Present & Future | 2006 January
Now Playing!: The Aero Theatre 75th Anniversary Celebration
2015 April
The exhibit features early photographs of the Aero Theatre including photos of its 75th anniversary celebration and rare movie posters.
Cultural Mecca
50 Years of Entertainment at the SM Civic Auditorium
2014 October 25 - 2015 January 24
Cultural Mecca explores the social and cultural impact the Civic had on Santa Monica’s and greater Los Angeles’ cultural fabric.
Warriors of Flames
125 years of fighting fires in Santa Monica
2014 June 28 - September 27
This exhibit explores how the Santa Monica Fire Department evolved from a small town bucket brigade into one of the premiere, most progressive city fire department in the United States. Supported by over 50 historical photographs and artifacts, visitors are transported through the ages of firefighting.
Life at the Miramar
2011 - 2014
The images and documents in this exhibition are from the start point of open space (circa 1874) deed of land purchase by Senator John P. Jones from Col. Baker.
Marion Davies Estate
Past, Present & Future
2006 January
The exhibit features historic photographs of Marion Davies and her estate’s five elaborately decorated buildings, landscape and swimming pool from the Bison Archives.
Love, Shirley Temple
2015 June 3, 6pm - 8pm
Past Exhibitions Love, Shirley Temple A Theriault’s Sponsored Exhibit 2015 June 3, 6pm – 8pm The Santa Monica History Museum is one of only five museums in the world chosen to exhibit this significant Shirley Temple collection. This unique exhibit features legendary child actress Shirley Temple’s notable personal childhood collection of movie costumes, dolls and […]
Now Playing!: The Aero Theatre 75th Anniversary Celebration
2015 April
The exhibit features early photographs of the Aero Theatre including photos of its 75th anniversary celebration and rare movie posters.
Cultural Mecca
50 Years of Entertainment at the SM Civic Auditorium
2014 October 25 - 2015 January 24
Cultural Mecca explores the social and cultural impact the Civic had on Santa Monica’s and greater Los Angeles’ cultural fabric.
Warriors of Flames
125 years of fighting fires in Santa Monica
2014 June 28 - September 27
This exhibit explores how the Santa Monica Fire Department evolved from a small town bucket brigade into one of the premiere, most progressive city fire department in the United States. Supported by over 50 historical photographs and artifacts, visitors are transported through the ages of firefighting.
Life at the Miramar
2011 - 2014
The images and documents in this exhibition are from the start point of open space (circa 1874) deed of land purchase by Senator John P. Jones from Col. Baker.
Marion Davies Estate
Past, Present & Future
2006 January
The exhibit features historic photographs of Marion Davies and her estate’s five elaborately decorated buildings, landscape and swimming pool from the Bison Archives.
Other Exhibitions
Pop-Up: Special exhibitions and exhibits featured in the SMHM entry hall. Pop-Up admission is always free.
Dia de los Muertos
Santa Monica YWCA
Susan B. Anthony Day
19th Amendment
Past Exhibitions:
Muscle Beach
On the Go, No Time to Write: Vintage Postcards of Santa Monica Bay from the Roger Genser Collection
Outlook Newspaper
Lawrence Welk & Aragon Ballroom
Laurel & Hardy
Love, Shirley Temple
2015 June 3, 6pm - 8pm
Past Exhibitions Love, Shirley Temple A Theriault’s Sponsored Exhibit 2015 June 3, 6pm – 8pm The Santa Monica History Museum is one of only five museums in the world chosen to exhibit this significant Shirley Temple collection. This unique exhibit features legendary child actress Shirley Temple’s notable personal childhood collection of movie costumes, dolls and […]