Tours
The Santa Monica Conservancy offers six signature guided tours!
Visit the Conservancy’s headquarters in the Preservation Resource Center at the Shotgun House, a designated Santa Monica landmark. This rehabilitated 1897 home is an excellent example of adaptive reuse that preserves original features. A Victorian dollhouse model shows how it looked when it was a home, and other displays tell the history of Santa Monica and Ocean Park.
The Shotgun House is typically open for free, in-person tours on the second Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon – 2 pm. Please check our calendar for changes!
Stroll down Main Street with award-winning Street Seen blogger Mark Gorman to learn about the evolution of this Ocean Park hub. Hear well-researched anecdotes about evolving landmarks, famous artists, and innovative entrepreneurs that contribute to the legends of Ocean Park’s Main Street.
The Main Street Walk is typically offered on the second Saturday from 10:30 am – 12 noon (unless otherwise stated at checkout). Tickets are free for members and $10 for the general public. Click here to make a reservation.
Merle Norman Building on Main Street
Join the Third Street Walk to discover how 27 bungalows and four other structures earned historic district status, and how Santa Monica’s first historic district tells the story of early development in the city. You will be guided by Conservancy Board President and architect, Mario Fonda-Bonardi, who witnessed the designation first hand!
The Third Street Walk is typically offered on the second Sunday of every month at noon (unless otherwise stated when you make your reservation). Tickets are free for members and $10 for the general public. Click here to make a reservation.
2617 3rd Street. Photo: Steve Loeper
Marion Davies Guest House at Annenberg Community Beach House Tour
This site of a grand mansion designed by architect Julia Morgan for William Randolph Hearst and actress Marion Davies was a hot spot on Santa Monica’s Gold Coast for film luminaries and heads of state. A restored guesthouse and the splendidly tiled swimming pool remain.
Every Friday-Monday from 12 noon – 2 p.m. Free with no reservations required. Hours are subject to change with short notice from October through May. Please call the Beach House at (310) 458-4904Â to confirm dates and closures. Click here for more information.
Discover downtown Santa Monica’s architecture, history and culture with our team of highly-rated docents. You’ll explore the architectural styles frequently found in Santa Monica, see an old Hollywood speakeasy, and see where Jim Morrison played his first show.
The Downtown Walking Tour is available on the first and third Saturdays of the month at 10 a.m. Tickets are free for members and $10 for the general public. Reservations preferred. Click here for hours and more information, or click here to go directly to reservations.
Garden Tours at the Doris Sosin Native Plant Garden at the Shotgun House
Hilda Weiss leads an intimate tour corresponding with the garden’s seasonal lifecycle. This collective exploration will spotlight the benefits of our native plants, the garden’s connection to the Shotgun House, and explore our own connections to place. Garden tours occur quarterly! Check back to find out when the next event is scheduled or sign up for our mailing list to receive our event schedule in your inbox.
Orange California Poppies at the Shotgun House Native Plant Garden
Other Ways to Explore Santa Monica
In addition to in-person tours, we offer free digital downloads of tour booklets from past specialty tours so you can explore Santa Monica from home or use the booklets to take the walks on your own: Discover Our Neighborhoods!
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