When Douglas Aircraft moved into Santa Monica and began producing airliners and military aircraft around the early 1920s, and the end of Route 66 was established in Santa Monica, the city became one of the leaders of transportation. “[Santa Monica Airport] is very much the appropriate place to have a Museum of Flying,” Schwieterman said.
In closing his presentation, Schwieterman showed a picture of the last train ride in Santa Monica in 1972. Earlier that day, in an effort to find the location of the last train that was photographed, Schwieterman went for a drive around the city with no success.
The talk drew a good number of city employees and politicians who were interested in learning more about the city’s past. Those in attendance included Councilman Kevin McKeown, Senior Transportation Manager Beth Rolandson and Planning Commission members.
As an architect, David Kaplan of the Airport Commission, was interested in learning about how transportation has shaped the way the city was developed.
Carol Lemlein, who is organizing a new Downtown Santa Monica walking tour for the Santa Monica Conservancy, sat in the audience taking notes on historical facts to use in the tours.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 3, 2007. Read the original PDF.