With the support of the California Council for the Promotion of History (CCPH), the Santa Monica Conservancy is in the process of making a publicly accessible web-based catalog of important historic sites and structures within the city of Santa Monica.

The CCPH, which is part of the California State University Department of History, contributed a grant of $750 for the first phase of the program. The “Discovering Our Past” program will combine photographs with written documentation of the chosen structures, and will be accessible from any Internet—connected computer by visiting www.smconservancy.org.  

“The goal is to create a library that can be used by anyone, anywhere, anytime,” said Joel Brand, a Santa Monica Conservancy spokesperson. “It’s time to bring Santa Monica’s history into the technological age so that residents can get to know the history of their homes, neighborhoods, favorite buildings, et cetera, anytime they like.”

Paula Scott, a historian, author and Santa Monica Conservancy member, has been responsible for researching and writing the narratives on the sites that make up the catalog. The Mayfair Theater, Lido Hotel and Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club are among the structures that have been catalogued. All historic structures, including historic homes and commercial buildings, as well as area sites such as neighborhoods that are determined to have historical and cultural significance, are being considered for inclusion. “We’re trying to capture some of the fabric that makes Santa Monica unique,” Brand said. “When you have a cluster of historic homes or buildings in a close-knit community, it’s not just the architecture that has been preserved, but the remnants of a way of life that dates as far back as when the neighborhood was built.” Churches, saloons and sidewalk signs will also be catalogued.

The Santa Monica Conservancy values community input on the project. In the past months it has held a series of public presentations in order to obtain community feedback. Those who wish to make suggestions can visit the conservancy Web site at www.smconservancy.org.