Special Events

In-person tours available
Preservation Resource Center
Saturday and Sunday, January 21-22; Wednesday, February 15 and Saturday and Sunday February 25-26; from 12-2 p.m.
2520 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Come by for a free tour! Explore the last intact shotgun house in Santa Monica, which now serves as an award-winning Preservation Resource Center for our community.

Built in 1897, the little house features three original rooms where you can explore Santa Monica history and learn about preservation. Look behind the walls and the floor to reveal vintage materials, and see if you can find the one original window in the Shotgun House. Young guests will also enjoy the miniature model house decorated with Victorian-era furnishings that were popular when our shotgun house was first built!

The front elevation of a shotgun house clad in off white board and batten, with a front porch, gable roof and Queen Anne style decorative elements, surrounded by a small native plant garden.

Our 1897 Shotgun House was adapted into a contemporary Preservation Resource Center for the community. Photo: FormLA Landscaping

Our friendly and knowledgeable docents will share information about what life was like in the early 1900s, how the house was saved and rehabilitated, and answer any questions you may have.

Masks are required indoors and social distancing will be observed. Due to the house’s small size, only 3 guests will be admitted at one time. Walk-ups are welcome and reservations are not required.

Live virtual tours available
Sunday, February 19 at noon

Can’t make the in-person tour? Take a virtual step inside our shotgun house with docent and architect Mario Fonda-Bonardi! Learn about life, history and architecture in Santa Monica in the early 1900s on this free virtual tour. 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.

A screenshot of the virtual tour showing a view of the interior with a thumbnail image of tour guide Mario Fonda-Bonardi at the top right and a row of small thumbnails views across the bottom.

Docent and architect Mario Fonda-Bonardi leads a tour of the shotgun house.

Register online for a private docent-guided tour of the shotgun house today. Tours are 45 minutes and are available at 12 and 1 pm on this date. You’ll get a chance to take a walk through history, hear stories about early Santa Monica and ask questions. The tour is free and will be held via Zoom.