Adelaide Drive overlooks Santa Monica Canyon. The Santa Monica Conservancy is hosting a tour along the street this Sunday. Photo: Steve Loeper
Tour Adelaide Homes/Gardens Sunday
The Santa Monica Conservancy will host a docent-guided walking tour of historic and contemporary residences on Adelaide Dr. from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 21. The half mile tour along the rim of the Santa Monica Canyon includes four gardens and two open houses at 130 and 518 Adelaide Dr.
In the early 20th Century, wealthy pioneer families built their coastal homes on Adelaide, and today five of those residences are still standing and have been designated landmarks. Current Adelaide residents include artist Don Bachardy, architect Frank Gehry, animator/cartoonist Matt Groening and author Mona Simpson.
The Norman Cottage at 518 Adelaide Drive is a 1925 French Norman Revival-style home reflects the popularity of French architecture in America after World War I.
The current owners bought the home in 1966 and did little remodeling until the 1994 earthquake caused severe damage to its chimney. Some interior rooms were reconfigured, but the house remains largely as it was nearly a century ago when, according to the current owners, silent screen star Anita Stewart called it home.
The home at 518 Adelaide Drive,, constructed in 1925 will be open to the public.
Photo: Steve Loeper
The home at 130 Adelaide Drive was once the residence of Roy Jones, son of Santa Monica co-founder Senator John Percival Jones.
Built in 1907, this Colonial Revival home was designed by architect Robert Farquhar, who is recognized for UCLA’s Clark Library, the California Club in downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica landmarks, including the house at 401 Ocean Avenue.
Today, Adelaide Dr. retains much of the elegance of its early days, thanks to the work of property owners and preservationists who value its historic nature. However, nearby high-rise condominiums on Ocean Avenue remind us that, although change is inevitable, a balanced effort to preserve our historic heritage is also important.
Advance tickets are $40 for the public ($45 at the event); $30 for Conservancy members. Accompanied children under 12 years of age are free. Check-in is at the 4th Street median between San Vicente Boulevard and Adelaide Drive and will close at 4 p.m. (Visit: smconservancy.org.) Tickets may be purchased at smc.givecloud.co. Street parking is available on Adelaide Drive and adjacent streets. Email: rsvp@smconservancy.org or leave a message at (310) 496-3146.