The City of Santa Monica has selected the Santa Monica Conservancy as partners in setting up a docent-guided tour program for the Annenberg Community Beach House at 415 Pacific Coast Highway.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Annenberg Foundation, this historic site has been renovated as a multi-faceted public beach club, opening in mid-April.

Once the site of a grand 110-room mansion designed by Julia Morgan for William Randolph Hearst and his companion, actress Marion Davies, the property was a “hot spot” on Santa Monica’s Gold Coast, where Hollywood celebrities came to enjoy the sun, the sea and fabulous parties at the Davies estate. Davies, a movie star, was a pre-eminent Hollywood hostess; she and Hearst reigned as virtual royalty, hosting film luminaries and heads of state.

The original mansion was torn down in 1956, but a guest house and the splendidly tiled swimming pool remain. Those historic assets have been restored and enhanced with new facilities for public recreation. The re-opening of 415 PCH is a highly anticipated event, and is expected to generate considerable interest from both residents and visitors.

One-hour tours will be offered both on weekends and weekdays once the facility opens in late Spring 2009. In the fall and winter, the tour schedule will be reduced; and the subsequent schedule will be responsive to demand.

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