Objects. Exhibitions. Stories.
Explore Santa Monica’s history through museum objects, archival photographs, exhibitions, and the people behind them.
A different way to explore the past
A photograph holds more than a scene. An everyday object carries more than a purpose. This independent journal looks at the details that help museum collections tell a wider story.
Read about museum objects, follow exhibition stories, and explore the questions behind the displays.
From the journal
An unfamiliar address on a family photograph or a name in an old school book
A film costume can preserve more than a familiar screen image. Its child-sized proportions invite
It is easy to admire a finished basket without thinking about how its shape was
A family recipe can raise questions that an ingredient list cannot answer. Who taught the
Inside the exhibitions
Explore how objects, photographs, and personal stories come together in museum displays. Find exhibition explainers, thoughtful highlights, and reflections on past presentations.
Museum events & conversations
Independent articles about museum talks, workshops, and public programs. Coverage is clearly dated so that previews and past-event stories do not get confused.
This is editorial coverage, not the museum’s official event calendar.
Find your next story
01 / Museum Objects
Everyday objects, personal possessions, and the histories they carry.
02 / Exhibitions
Close readings of exhibitions, from their themes to the details on display.
03 / Museum Events
Independent coverage of talks, workshops, and museum conversations.
04 / Photographs & Archives
Photographs, documents, and other records that invite a closer look.
05 / People & Their Stories
Lives and experiences documented through collections and exhibitions.
06 / Museum Learning
Approachable ways to understand objects, archives, and exhibition labels.
Continue your reading
Keep exploring the objects, exhibitions, and archival materials that open a window into Santa Monica’s history.