S.M. History Museum Appoints Canyon Resident As Director
The Santa Monica History Museum has named Canyon resident Anne Wallentine as its new executive director.
“I am honored to lead an institution dedicated to sharing the stories that shape Santa Monica’s past and present,” Wallentine said. “The museum is a vital community resource, and I look forward to deepening our partnerships and expanding our programs to ensure every resident feels a connection to our shared history.”
Wallentine’s family has its own history in the Canyon. Her great-grandmother, Helen Garrity Yorke, who worked in publicity for Hollywood studios, first moved to the area in the 1950s. Wallentine followed in Yorke’s footsteps by settling in the Canyon in 2019. She resides there with her husband, Shivan Sharma.
As Wallentine considers future museum exhibits, she requests input from Canyon residents. Currently, the museum is working to preserve the stories of those affected by the Palisades Fire through both oral histories and a planned future exhibition, Wallentine said. If any Canyonites are interested in contributing their experiences, reach out to her at awallentine@santamonicahistory.org.
Before taking on her new position, Wallentine served as the museum’s curator from 2023-2025, when she developed exhibitions and programs highlighting the city’s cultural and civic history. Her contributions include the museum’s first exhibition on LGBTQ+ history, a collaboration with the OUTWORDS Archive; an interactive exhibition on the history of housing; and an exhibition on the city’s treescape for Santa Monica’s sesquicentennial.
Anne Wallentine
The Santa Monica History Museum
Wallentine’s exhibitions connect history to contemporary issues through oral histories and interactive segments, such as a ‘game of housing’ that illustrated the social inequities of housing history.
“Anne combines deep historical knowledge with a profound commitment to community engagement,” said Susan Potter, museum president and interim chair of the museum’s Board of Directors. “Her knowledge of our institution, paired with her vision for participatory public history, makes her the ideal leader to guide the museum into its next chapter.”
Wallentine has also held senior roles at communications agencies, where she advised Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits on narrative strategy and public engagement. She has a history degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s in art history from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. Her writing has appeared in publications such as the Financial Times, The Economist, Smithsonian Magazine, The Art Newspaper, and Hyperallergic.
In her new role, Wallentine will focus on expanding the museum’s collaborative exhibitions, school partnerships, and public programming.
The museum, which is located next to the S.M. Public Library Main Branch, contains a collection of more than 600,000 photographs that document the city’s cultural, civic, and social history. Museum hours are Thursdays 2-5 p.m., Fridays through Sundays 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 1350 7th St. More information is available at www.santamonicahistory.org or via email: info@santamonicahistory.org.
A gallery in the Santa Monica History Museum
