April E-Newsletter
Reframe: City Hall Mural Project
Public Feedback Activity OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, April 25 from 5:30-7:30 pm
Santa Monica City Hall Lobby
1685 Main Street
Join Conservancy staff and board members in the lobby of City Hall this coming Tuesday to fill out the Reframe: City Hall Mural Feedback Activity! Parking is available across the street from City Hall in the structure at 4th and Olympic.

The open house will take place while the lobby is open for Tuesday's City Council session. No RSVP or reservations required, just show up with your pen or pencil. Hard copies of the Feedback Activity will be provided. (Photo: Kristina Sado)
Just Around the Corner!
Presented by the Santa Monica Conservancy and 
Santa Monica History Museum
Santa Monica’s iconic Palisades Park allows everyone in the city access to sweeping ocean views, thanks to powerful Mexican landowner, philanthropist and 19th century influencer Arcadia Bandini.
On Sunday, April 30, from 5-6 p.m., Bandini will be the subject of the Conservancy’s first Mosaic livestream of 2023, produced in partnership with the Santa Monica History Museum. Tune in for an intimate portrait of a woman whose name would have been known to everyone in Southern California during her lifetime.

The virtual Zoom program will feature presentations by Bandini’s own great-grandnephew, Ricardo Bandini Johnson, and Nina Fresco, local historian and Conservancy Board member. Fresco will give an overview of Bandini’s history and importance to the region, while Bandini Johnson will offer a more personal view of his relative’s life and legacy. Both presentations will be illustrated by an array of exclusive photos from the History Museum and Bandini Foundation.
Born into a prominent Californio family in 1827, Bandini lived to see her Ranchero-era Alta California transition to American statehood and begin its transformation into the nation’s most populous state. In the history books, Bandini has been overshadowed by her husbands, Abel Stearns and Robert Baker. But she was a powerful force in her own right and one of the richest people in the country when she passed away in her house on Ocean Avenue in 1912. Much of what makes Santa Monica desirable today is due to her generosity, and foresight. (Photo courtesy of the Santa Monica History Museum)

Join us on April 30 to see and hear Arcadia Bandini’s fascinating and inspirational story.

Arcadia is free for both Santa Monica History Museum and Conservancy members, and $10 for the general public. Donate $45 or more and you'll receive a one-year membership and discounts to this and future programs. If you have trouble registering, please email us directly at [email protected] or call 310-496-3146 and we will get back to you.
We Love our Volunteers
In honor of National Volunteer Week the Conservancy would like to take a moment to acknowledge that volunteers have been the heart and soul of this organization for twenty years. They are teachers, archivists, historians, nurses, financial planners, stay-at-home parents, architects, poets, gardeners, retirees, students, layers and more. They run our board, lead our tours, develop our programs, speak up when historic resources are threatened and share our work with the public at outreach events throughout the city. 

To all our past, present, and future volunteers, we thank you for your service to the Conservancy and for your stewardship of Santa Monica’s historic places!

If you would like to join this incredible community, we invite you to introduce yourself by filling out an application here or by emailing us at [email protected]

(Clockwise from top right: Volunteers staff a Conservancy outreach table at the 38th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration in January, 2023; Conservancy volunteers pose during a visit to The Ebell of Los Angeles in December, 2022; A team serves up the famous Conservancy Chili for the 2022 Holiday Party; The Docent Council convenes at the Annenberg Community Beach House in April, 2022; Preservation Resource Center docents pose during an appreciation party in 2018. Photo credit: The Santa Monica Conservancy)
2023 Venice Design Series Features the Shotgun House
The Conservancy is honored to be included as a stop on the sold-out Ocean Park Neighborhood Tour, part of the 2023 Venice Design Series. In addition to the Shotgun House, the tour will feature properties in the Third Street Neighborhood Historic District as well as contemporary work of iconic architects including Frank Gehry. Former KCRW host Frances Anderton, author of “Common Ground: Multi-Family Housing in Los Angeles,” will provide context and details. All benefits of this fundraiser go to support Venice Community Housing, a respected local nonprofit focused on creating neighborhood-based solutions by providing affordable housing, supportive resident services, and pathways to higher education and employment.
Conservancy Tours & Events
Save the Date!
Annual Meeting & Preservation Awards
June 10, 2023
On Saturday, June 10th the Conservancy will host its first in-person Annual Meeting and Preservation Awards Ceremony since 2019. Stay tuned for details and registration information.
Preservation Resource Center at the Shotgun House
2520 2nd Street
*OPEN THIS WEEKEND*
Sat & Sun, April 22 & 23
Open from 12-2 p.m.
Live Virtual Tour
Sunday, April 30 at noon
Celebrate Earth Day at the Preservation Resource Center and see our own little superbloom in the Shotgun House Coastal Garden! Discover the journey of this incredible little house, which was saved from demolition and moved–on wheels–three times before being adapted into our modern-day Center. Learn more
Friday-Monday, from 12-2 p.m.
April 21 - 24; April 28 - May 1;
May 5 - 8; May 12 - 15
415 Pacific Coast Highway
Enjoy a free tour led by Conservancy docents and learn about the rich history of the Marion Davies Guest House, which was built by William Randolph Hearst for actress Marion Davies. The hottest spot on Santa Monica’s Gold Coast during the 1920s, guests included Charlie Chaplin and Greta Garbo. The 20-minute tours are available on a walk-up basis. Learn more
1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at 10 a.m.
May 6 & May 20
1436 2nd Street
Discover the architectural gems and rich history of Downtown Santa Monica on our highly rated guided tour. From Art Deco to Victorian and Romanesque Revival, you’ll explore the various styles that fill the streets of our city. Tours are approximately two hours and cover six blocks. Free for members and $10 for the general public. Register
Community News & Events
Earth Day Beach Clean Up
Saturday, April 22 from 10 am - 12 pm
Near the Santa Monica Pier at Tower 27
Come celebrate Earth Day and join HUM Nutrition, Youth To the People and Surfrider Foundation in a Santa Monica beach clean up! Reserve your spot here.
Earth Day Celebration with
Heal the Bay Aquarium
Saturday, April 22 from 11 am - 4 pm
1600 Ocean Front Walk
(under the Santa Monica Pier)
For Heal the Bay, every day is Earth Day, but April is extra special because communities worldwide come together to celebrate and help heal our planet. This special event includes an Earth Day-themed storytime, wildlife station, pollution displays, eco-themed crafts station, short films, and an on-the-hour mini Earth Day dance party! More information
California Preservation Foundation
Peacekeeping / Placemaking
Annual Conference
Online Programming, April 26-27
This year's conference is being held in San Francisco from April 19 through April 21, but there will also be an online component from April 26 to April 27. This option offers access to the the live broadcasts and recordings of conference programs with sessions that focus on issues facing California's historic, cultural, and natural resources. More information
Santa Monica Conservancy
310-496-3146