The South Beach Tour: Living History by the Sea

Discover four blocks of living history by the sea on the Santa Monica Conservancy’s South Beach Tour on October 20. Self-guided tours will take place from 11 am – 4 pm, and our separately ticketed fundraising reception will be hosted from 3-5 pm at the conclusion of the tour route.

Explore the eclectic architecture of this historic neighborhood, including American Foursquare, Craftsman, Dutch Colonial, Italian Revival, Mission Revival and other vernacular interpretations. Step inside select houses to see how residents have preserved their homes while updating them for modern use.

Constructed largely between 1901 and 1905, this section of Ocean Park was the impetus for a seaside housing boom on the south side that drew people from around the country. When the Santa Fe Railroad Company, struggling against its electric railway competitors, sold its 12-acre tract to G.A. Hart and A.R. Fraser, the parcel was quickly subdivided into expensive lots and sold to the public. The sleepy neighborhood beside the popular Ocean Park amusement zone sprang to life.

In the 1960s, much of the district was razed a decade later by the City’s Redevelopment Agency. The properties that remain today have survived because of successful advocacy by residents. However, encroaching coastal development is threatening the treasured character of South Beach, and a renewed preservation effort is needed to ultimately save the unique neighborhood.

Join us for The South Beach Tour and our separately ticketed reception at Horatio West Court, a modernist masterpiece by one of the early-20th century’s most innovative architects, Irving Gill. Proceeds will support the Conservancy’s educational programs.

Please note that onsite tickets are $5 additional.

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