Pacific Palisades Historical Society
Pacific Palisades Historical Society
Pacific Palisades Business Block after 2025 wildfire. Photo by Patrick Healy.
Founded amid a wave of activism that spread through the community half a century ago, the Pacific Palisades Historical Society sees its mission, now as then, as not only documenting, preserving and sharing the area’s rich history, but also insuring that decisions made for its future course are informed by an understanding of its past.
Perhaps at no time in the coastal community’s history is this more important than now, as Pacific Palisades struggles to recover from the unprecedentedly devastating wildfire of January 7, 2025. It burned more than half of all homes, three historical landmark buildings and also destroyed schools, churches, parks and small businesses so integral in the social fabric.
The area’s inhabitants were largely Indigenous peoples until 1839, when California was part of Mexico, and the land “where the mountains meet the sea” was granted as a Rancho. In 1921, an organization formed by the regional conference of Methodists purchased the site on the outskirts of Los Angeles for its annual chautauqua gathering, with the campground as the heart of a new town. The Olmsted Brothers were retained as planning consultants. And though not all of what they envisioned came to fruition, their layout for the town center can still be seen today—albeit now largely in ruins.
Pacific Palisades Business Block in 1925. Photo courtesy of the Clearwater Collection, Santa Monica Public Library.
Pacific Palisades Business Block after 2025 wildfire. Photo by Patrick Healy.
1924 Olmsted Preliminary Plan. Image courtesy of the Young Family Collection.
Pacific Palisades Founders Day in 1922. Photo courtesy of the Clearwater Collection, Santa Monica Public Library.
Will Rogers Ranch House, c. 1930. Photo courtesy of the Clearwater Collection, Santa Monica Public Library.
The Pacific Palisades Methodist Church in 1930. Photo courtesy of the Young Family Collection.
The Pacific Palisades Methodist Church after the 2025 wildfire. Photo by DeAnn Healy.
Pacific Palisades Easter Sunrise Service, c. 1922. Photo courtesy of the Clearwater Collection, Santa Monica Public Library.
Marquez-Reyes historical marker. Photo by Patrick Healy.