Celebrating New Deal History at Samohi

Santa Monica High School (Samohi) invites you to a public open house and reception to celebrate the restoration of art and architecture created during the New Deal in the 1930s. Barnum Hall, the school auditorium, showcases Moderne architecture and decorative artwork in one of the City’s most splendid historic landmarks. The Viking Warrior statue was salvaged from a demolition, restored, and installed in a prominent new location. The Senior Bench, with its beautiful petrachrome murals, was also relocated and restored. Both projects received a 2025 Preservation Award for Stewardship from the Santa Monica Conservancy.

Co-sponsored by the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD), Samohi, and the Santa Monica Conservancy, the program starts at Barnum Hall, followed by visits to the other locations. Speakers will be Carey Upton, Facilities Manager for SMMUSD, and Nina Fresco and Ruthann Lehrer, Santa Monica Conservancy. The celebration includes the first-ever art gallery installation of paintings created under the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Arts Project, in which artists received federal grants for their artwork. A large-scale painting by renowned artist Conrad Buff, “Westward Ho,” will be on display at Barnum Hall.

The 1930s were transformative times in Santa Monica. The onset of the Depression was followed by the devastating Long Beach Earthquake in 1933, which severely damaged all our schools and moved classroom learning to tents outside. Rebuilding and reconstruction were facilitated by federal grants under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. Major public works were carried out in Santa Monica, including the construction of City Hall and the Post Office. Public art was integral to this program as part of the country’s economic recovery strategy. Rebuilding our school campuses at this time resulted in WPA Moderne architecture and other facility innovations that were progressive at that time, as well as new artwork. As our school campuses continue to evolve, retaining visible links to our past are important reminders of our history.

Parking is available at the city parking structure at 4^th Street and Olympic Boulevard, with access to Samohi at the 4^th Street gate.