Malibu - Past & Present
 

Malibu Neighborhoods
 

Malibu's Past

Malibu was a part of the territory of the Chumash tribe of Native American Indians. It was named "Humaliwo" or "the surf sounds loudly." Spanish explorer Juan Cabrillo is believed to have moored at Malibu Lagoon, at the mouth of Malibu Creek, to obtain fresh water in 1542. The Spanish presence returned with the California mission system, and the area was part of a 13,000 acre (120 km²) land grant in 1802. That ranch passed intact to Frederick Hastings Rindge in 1891. He and his widow, Rhoda May Rindge, guarded their privacy zealously by hiring guards to evict all trespassers and fighting a lengthy court battle to prevent the building of a Southern Pacific railroad line. Few roads even entered the area before 1929, when the state won another court case and built what is now known as the Pacific Coast Highway. By then May Rindge was forced to subdivide her property and begin selling and leasing lots. The Rindge house, known as the Adamson House, is now part of Malibu Creek State Park and is situated between Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach, beside the Malibu Pier that was originally built for the family yacht. The Malibu Colony was one of the first areas settled, and is on the opposite shore of the lagoon.

In 1926, in an effort to avoid selling land to stave off insolvency, Rhoda May Rindge created a small ceramic tile factory. At its height, the Malibu Potteries employed over 100 workers, and produced decorative tiles which furnish many Los Angeles-area public buildings and Beverly Hills residences. The factory, located one-half mile east of the pier, was ravaged by

Malibu Colony circa 1940, on the Roosevelt Highway (now Pacific Coast Highway) at Malibu Beach.  The original Malibu Inn is on the left side of the road opposite the entrance to the Colony.  This image was scanned from a period postcard made from a Spence Air Photos picture.  It says on the back, "Many movie celebrities and executives have erected their beautiful summer homes here."

a fire in 1931. Although the factory partially reopened
in 1932, it could not recover from the effects of the Great Depression and a steep downturn in Southern California construction projects. A distinct hybrid of Moorish and Arts and Crafts designs, Malibu tile is considered highly collectible. Fine examples of the tiles may be seen at the Adamson House and Serra Retreat, a fifty-room mansion that was started in the 1920s as the main Rindge home on a hill overlooking the lagoon. The unfinished building was sold to the Franciscan Order in 1942 and is operated as a retreat facility. It burned in the 1970 fire and was rebuilt using many of the original tiles.

In 1991 Malibu, long an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, achieved cityhood in order to allow for exercise of local control. Prior to incorporation the local residents had fought proposed developments including a freeway, a nuclear power plant, and several sewer line plans. Actor Martin Sheen was named honorary mayor in 1989.

Malibu's history is filled with many good stories. For more interesting details of murder and movie stars, click here.

Present-Day Malibu

Today, Malibu is one of the world's most glamorous residential communities, Malibu is surrounded by the magnificent green, rolling hills of the Santa Monica Mountain's and the peaceful white sandy beaches of the Pacific Ocean. One of the highest rated public school systems in the state of California and many well-regarded private schools, colleges and universities are in or close proximity to Malibu. Beverly Hills and famed Rodeo Drive are just 30 minutes away and downtown Los Angeles' business and theater district is a 40 minute drive. It is 35 minutes to Los Angeles

Malibu Colony today

International Airport and the Santa Monica
Airport is nearby, providing private aircraft accessibility. Westwood and Century City employment centers are close by. Horseback riding through scenic parklands and canyons is a popular activity. The J. Paul Getty Museum in neighboring Pacific Palisades is minutes away.

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area became a part of the National Park System in 1978. Together, government agencies, landowners, and the people who use this land are working to provide places for people to live, work, and play while protecting the mountains and seashore for future generations.

While Malibu’s “way of life” may have changed since May Rindge’s days and the not so distant cattle farms, there is still that essence of the tranquil countryside that greets you each day. Living in Malibu, you have the pleasure of discovering your own “way of life”.