“Telling Stories of Mexican California: Real Life & Myth Making." on view June 23 - August 18, 2024.

This revealing new pop-up exhibition highlights the true stories of California’s Mexican period, which lasted from 1822-1846, and holds them up alongside the fantasy depictions used by early stakeholders, who viewed California's history through the lenses of their own experiences and chose to present narratives that suited their purposes.

One of the most pervasive narratives was a picture of an idyllic bygone era of ranchos where dons and doñas enjoyed lives of abundance, a memory that fails to include native peoples, Franciscan friars, and hard-scrabble facts of early settlements.

Presented in partnership with the California Historical Society and Exhibit Envoy.
The Santa Monica History Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Tax ID: 95-3019295