Santa Monica city feature
About this landmark
A mansion built for an actress became a public gathering space.
The estate was originally developed in the 1920s as a private oceanfront property commissioned by William Randolph Hearst for actress Marion Davies. Located at 415 Pacific Coast Highway, it was designed by architect Julia Morgan. The main mansion contained "100-plus rooms," with an ornate marble-lined swimming pool described as a 110-foot heated saltwater pool. Between 1929 and 1942, guests included Charlie Chaplin and Winston Churchill, among others.
From hotel to earthquake damage
In 1947, Joseph Drown purchased the property and converted it into the "Oceanhouse" hotel, operating alongside the members-only Sand & Sea Club. The main mansion was demolished in 1956. The property was sold to the State of California in 1959. The Sand & Sea Club lease expired in 1989. The club's membership had provided decades of recreational access to the oceanfront property after the hotel's conversion from its original private estate function.
The estate suffered severe structural damage in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The City of Santa Monica adopted a reuse plan for the site in 1998. The damage required extensive restoration, designed by Frederick Fisher and Partners (architects) with Historic Resources Group, and built by Charles Pankow Builders. Restoring the property after earthquake damage became a test of historic preservation principles in a seismic region.
Public reopening and modern use
In 2005, the Annenberg Foundation grant of $27.5 million funded the restoration project. The redevelopment design involved Frederick Fisher and Partners (architects) with Historic Resources Group. The project restored two original structures: the Marion Davies Guest House (North House) and the historic swimming pool. The site reopened to the public as the Annenberg Community Beach House on April 25, 2009, with no membership required. The redevelopment received a Gold LEED rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The Los Angeles Conservancy gave the project a Preservation Award in 2010, recognizing the successful balance between earthquake resilience and historic integrity. Today, grounds including the playground, volleyball courts, and sandy areas are open November through March, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and April through October, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The gated area operates on similar hours. Only parking and pool use require a fee; playground, volleyball courts, splash pad, and view deck access are free.
Insurance connection: Earthquake coverage for buildings
Standard homeowners, renters, and condominium insurance policies do not cover damage from earthquakes. The state of California requires insurers to offer earthquake coverage in writing every other year. The California Earthquake Authority provides most earthquake policies through member insurance companies. Deductible options typically range from 5% to 25% of coverage, though homes valued over $1 million or built before 1980 on certain foundations have a 15% minimum deductible. Standard homeowners insurance still covers fire damage resulting from an earthquake, even without separate earthquake coverage. Eligibility and limits depend on the individual policy. The issued policy controls.
Primary sources: City of Santa Monica's official history page, LA Conservancy's historic places entry
Insurance context is general information only. The issued policy and its endorsements settle coverage.