Marion Davies Estate Tour

Annenberg Community Beach House docent, Michael Burton, gives a tour of the Marion Davies Estate on Friday, October 8, 2021.

The Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach is a public facility located on 5 acres of oceanfront property. The Beach House story is one of evolution from private to public, starting with the development of the property at 415 Pacific Coast Highway as an opulent private estate in the 1920s.

The 5-acre oceanfront site upon which the Annenberg Community Beach House now sits was originally developed during the Gold Coast era of the 1920s by William Randolph Hearst for actress Marion Davies. The Davies estate featured a mansion of 100-plus rooms and an ornate marble swimming pool. As with many Hearst projects, the vision of architect Julia Morgan provided a cohesive grace to the rambling estate. The Beach House was a hot spot on Santa Monica's Gold Coast, with Hearst and Davies entertaining luminaries from the Hollywood set, such as Charlie Chaplin, Louis B. Mayer, Samuel Goldwyn, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable and other stars of the day.

The site opened to the public as the Annenberg Community Beach House on April 25, 2009. The Beach House combines elements of the historic Marion Davies Estate with new amenities to create a truly unique community destination that's open to all - no membership required. With spectacular views, splash pad, children's play area, gallery, historic pool, and Marion Davies Guest House there's something for everyone to enjoy at the Beach House!

Santa Monica Conservancy docents are on hand to share the rich history of the Beach House site from the 1920s onward. Free 20-minute docent tours are available on a walk-up basis, for groups of up to six people. Please mask up, masks are required indoors at City of Santa Monica facilities.
Just head to the Marion Davies Guest House where you will be greeted by a docent.

SOURCE: https://www.annenbergbeachhouse.com/a...