Laguna Art Museum
The Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach grew out of the efforts of Anna Hills, Edgar Payne, and other artists “to advance the knowledge of and interest in Art” by forming the Laguna Beach Art Association in 1918. Using funds raised by artists, Edgar Payne converted an old town pavilion into an art gallery to exhibit members’ artwork for sale. With fundraising largely attributed to the efforts of artist Anna Hills, members opened a fireproof, custom-built gallery designed by the noted Los Angeles architect Myron Hunt in 1929. This survives as the Steele Gallery within the present museum building. In April 1985, the museum was temporarily closed for reconstruction, reopening in September 1986 after an extensive expansion that doubled the museum space. With the introduction of an entirely new building, the museum changed its name to Laguna Art Museum.
Laguna Beach, Orange County
Photographers: Gary Miller, Larry Slonim
SoCal Landmarks teamed up with members of the Photographic Society of Orange County (PSOC) to document this landmark.