Society will rent public space for $1 a year
MAIN LIBRARY — As it currently sits, the future home of the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum is nothing more than an empty box waiting to be filled with the more than 500,000 images, artifacts and documents detailing the city’s rich history.
There are no display cases, no gift shop, nor the wiring needed to illuminate the many treasures collected since 1975, when the Santa Monica Centennial Committee created the non-profit, currently located at a temporary site at 1539 Euclid St.
To ensure that the new location has all of the amenities expected by the grand opening, scheduled sometime in the summer of 2007, museum supporters have embarked on a $5 million capital campaign.
Roughly $1.5 million will help pay for the completion of the 5,000-square-foot facility, to be located adjacent to the new Main Library on Seventh Street, while the remainder will go towards creating an endowment, bolster programming, historical preservation and day-to-day operations, said Louise Gabriel, president and CEO of the museum.
“The museum is where Santa Monica’s rich history comes alive,” Gabriel said. “We hope the community will join us in celebrating our city’s legacy by contributing to this worthy cause. It will ensure that our past is preserved for future generations to learn from, appreciate and enjoy.”
“Murphy Brown” star Joe Regalbuto, a long-time Santa Monica resident, is the honorary spokesperson for the campaign.
Gabriel said the museum’s collection has grown along with its popularity, creating the need for a larger space and staff.
“With this money we are hoping to not only create a new, wonderful facility for the community to enjoy, but also expand our research library and offer more programs and workshops,” she said. “People will also be able to explore the past and their imaginations with hands-on exhibits.”
City Hall is renting the space to the historical society for $1 a year.
Those who donate $500 or more will receive special recognition on the “Wall of Legacy,” a permanent fixture in the new museum. To contribute, the public is asked to call (310) 395-2290, or visit www.santa-monicahistory.org.
“Our goal is to keep the history of Santa Monica alive for everyone,” Gabriel said. “We have new people moving in here all the time and it would be a shame for them to not have an opportunity to learn about their new home.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 20, 2006. Read the original PDF.