The Conservancy will hold its Annual Meeting on January 29, 2012 from 3 to 5 PM at the John Byers-designed Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica. In addition to the Board of Directors election and Preservation Awards, the program will include an update on plans for the Preservation Resource Center.

Space is limited Advance reservations advised by January 25. To RSVP register online, send an email, or leave a message at (310) 496-3146.

The Church is located at 1260 18th St (corner of 18th St and Arizona).

About the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica (UUCCSM) and John Byers: The Unitarian Church of Santa Monica (the original name) was organized in 1927. The church bought a lot from one of the founding members of the congregation, Fred Taft, and built its sanctuary in 1930 at the beginning of the Depression. It was designed by Santa Monica architect John Byers, who also designed the Miles Playhouse in Christine Emerson Reed Park.

Byers was a self-taught architect who previously worked as a language teacher at Santa Monica High School. Fascinated by the adobe buildings he saw in his travels to Latin America, he revived adobe construction locally around 1920, fused with Spanish Colonial Revival and Monterey Revival architectural design. He later earned an architectural degree and became successful as a designer of homes for celebrities and prestigious clients. Interested in using authentic decorative craft adornments for his homes, he established craft workshops for wrought iron, carved wood, decorative tiles and terra cotta roof tile. Santa Monica landmarks designed by John Byers include the Zimmers House and his own residence on La Mesa Drive, and his office at 246 26th St.

At last year’s annual meeting, the Conservancy honored UUCCSM with a Preservation Award for converting a 1914 cottage on the lot adjoining the sanctuary into church classrooms and meeting space, choosing adaptive reuse over demolition and new construction.

In approximately two hours and six blocks, the walk traverses more than 130 years of Santa Monica history, from its Wild West frontier beginnings to the sophisticated metropolis of today. You'll learn about the civic leaders whose vision built the growing city, and experience downtown's diverse architectural heritage, including:

- The 1875 Rapp Saloon, opened the year the city was founded, later served as the first city hall. Having passed through many adaptive reuses in its long life, today it is incorporated into the Hostelling International facility.
- The Majestic Theatre, later the Mayfair, the city's first theater built to showcase the nascent film industry, which used the city for film locations.
- The Keller Block, a splendid example of Romanesque Revival architecture.
- The Builders Exchange, a restored Churrigueresque/Spanish Revival building, with intact decorative interiors.
- The Bay Cities Guaranty Building, the city's first skyscraper, a soaring Art Deco landmark with its signature clock tower.
- The El Miro theater, an exuberant Art Deco/Streamline Moderne creation that became the centerpiece for the revitalization of the old mall into the Third Street Promenade.

THREE WAYS TO TOUR DOWNTOWN

Docent-guided walking tours at 10AM every Saturday morning.
Reservations are suggested.

Walking tour gift certificates are now available. See our Downtown Walking Tour gift certificate page for details.

Self-guided Tour Booklets providing a map and detailed information on the city's history and the historic buildings featured on the tour, are available for $3 at the
Visitors Center, 1920 Main Street and the Hostelling International Travel Store, 1434 Second Street.

Group Tours may be booked by special appointment. Call 310-496-3146 or send email to dwt@smconservancy.org.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE RESERVATIONS ONLINE, BY PHONE OR EMAIL.