Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum

Adamson House was built in 1929 for husband and wife Merritt and Rhoda Adamson. Rhoda was the daughter of Frederick and May Rindge, the last owners of the Rancho Malibu Spanish land grant.

Until 1928, the family owned 24 miles (39 km) of Malibu coastline. Situated on the beach, the idyllic house, designed by Stiles Clements, and its 6 acres (2.5 ha) of gardens overlook Malibu Pier and Malibu Lagoon. The Spanish Colonial style building is covered with vivid tiles from the Malibu Potteries a ceramics firm that was started by May Rindge and owned by the family. These of these individually designed tiles are featured throughout the house and grounds. The floors, walls, doorways, and fountains are all intricately decorated.

The house’s original 1920s furnishings are also on display. Located in the converted garage of Adamson House is the Malibu Lagoon Museum, which is devoted to the history of Malibu. Artifacts, documents, and photographs tell the story not only of the Rindge family but also of the early Chumash population and José Tapia, who in 1802 became Malibu’s first Spanish landowner.

Address: 23200 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Te:l (310) 456-8432.
Timing: 11am–3pm Wed–Sat.
WEB: www.adamsonhouse.org

Museum of Flying

2772 Donald Douglas Loop North.
Tel: (310) 392-8822. Closed until mid-2006; call or check website for details.
Timing: Wed–Sun, by advance reservation.
www.museumofflying.com

The first airplane to fly around the world, the 1924 New Orleans, is on display at this fascinating museum of aviation history. Other highlights of the collection of 40 aircraft are P-51 Mustangs and Spitfires, the victorious fighter planes of World War II. Interactive exhibits explain the complexities of aircraft design, and there are workshops for children, who can take part in a variety of related activities.
Some of the vintage aircraft remain airworthy, and visitors can watch them take off from and land at the adjacent Santa Monica Airport. Classic aviation films are also shown.