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Along with a rotating exhibition, we have six permanent exhibition rooms full of historical photographs and objects of Santa Monica’s history. Some rooms include interactive features. One such feature, Then & Now, has a version here online.

Exhibitions Keeping History Alive! Emerge yourself into the history of this great city through our interactive exhibits and so much more! With six permanent exhibitions and one main exhibition, rotating multiple times a year, there is so much rich and diverse history of Santa Monica to explore and discover! discover! explore! experience! Current Exhibition Broadway […]

Come in and explore our current exhibition. We also have six permanent exhibition rooms displaying many images and objects from our collections.

Online Exhibitions With our large collection of historical photographs and artifacts, there’s much more we can share with you than just our in-house exhibitions. These online exhibitions give us the opportunity for you to discover more Santa Monica history right from the comfort of your home – or on the go! We hope you enjoy […]

404 Page Not Found Oops! Something went wrong! The page you are looking for either has moved or cannot be found. Search our site Might we suggest one of the following Current Exhibition Our Collections  / Photo Reprints view collections photo reprints Gift Shop Prints Merchandise Cards Books

Have a story to share?  Something you’re looking for?

We love to hear your stories and memories about Santa Monica.  Drop us a message or ask us a question.  Anything from Santa Monica history, inquires about the museum and events, a research question, our collections – Ask us anything!

Throughout its history, Santa Monica has been described by many endearing phrases, among them “City by the Sea,” and “Jewel of the Sunset Bay.” Discover more about its history, the native people, the Tongva Gabrielino Native Americans, founders and more.

The Santa Monica History Museum’s mission is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of Santa Monica for generations to come. We are the stewards of the rich history of the Santa Monica Bay area.

Be a part of Santa Monica’s history forever by having your name engraved on a leaf and permanently on display in the lobby of the Santa Monica History Museum. Giving a leaf is a wonderful gift to memorialize or honor a loved one, friend or business. When purchased as a gift, we will send an acknowledgement to your recipient.

The Santa Monica History Museum is the steward of the rich history of the Santa Monica Bay area. We are committed to enriching our community by providing public access to our extensive collection, with exhibitions, public programs, community partnerships and through archival and research services.