Santa Monica's last intact shotgun house survived demolition and multiple moves
Santa Monica's last remaining 'shotgun house,' built in 1897, has been preserved and repurposed as a community resource center. The building survived multiple relocation efforts and demolition threats to become a landmark of local architectural history.
Why it matters
It highlights the importance of historic preservation in rapidly developing urban areas and the role of community conservancies.
A small wooden house in Santa Monica has survived something few historic buildings ever face: demolition threats, years in storage and several moves from one location to another. Built in 1897, the Shotgun House is now recognised as the last intact example of its kind in the city. What began as a modest home near the beach has become an important piece of Santa Monica's architectural history. Its survival is also a story of residents and preservation groups stepping in when an old building was at risk of disappearing. Today, the house stands at 2520 Second Street, where it has been given a new purpose as a Preservation Resource Center.
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