Santa Monica Historic Districts
Since 2001, architectural photographer John Bare has documented numerous historic residential districts throughout Southern California. While some of the homes and buildings may be noteworthy on their own, the goal of John’s documentation, and our presentations, is to provide an overview of the districts and the variety of architectural styles that contribute to their notoriety.
Between June 2015 and February 2019, the City of Santa Monica designated five historic districts to, in part, “protect improvements and areas which represent elements of the City’s cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history and safeguard the City’s historic, aesthetic and cultural heritage. The “City by the Sea,” “Pearl of the Pacific,” “City of Inspiration” and “Jewel of the Sunset Bay” has its roots in Colonel Robert S. Baker’s purchase of the Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica from the Don Francisco Sepulveda heirs in 1872. By the 1920s, the northern area of Santa Monica had become a renowned resort for the rich and famous, making Santa Monica world renowned as a place of leisure, tourism, scenic splendor and year-round fun.
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
Photographer: John Bare