Thursday, September 19, 2013

She Sells Sea Shells by the Sea Shore




William Randolph Hearst combined several lots to amass a huge piece of property along the beach in Santa Monica and built a mansion for Marion Davies.

All that remains today are photos of the original house and the actual guest "cottage" and the swimming pool.

After decades as a private club the property was recently opened to the public by the City of Santa Monica with the financial support of the Annenberg Foundation as the Annenberg Community Beach House.

The Guest Cottage is periodically open to the public and I was fortunate enough to take a one on one tour with one of the volunteer Docents.  A glorious visit to California's Gilded Age.

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