Adamson House Tour: Is it Worth Adding to Your Malibu Itinerary?
The stunning Adamson House in Malibu, California is one of my favorite spots along the Southern California coast. Located right off Pacific Coast Highway (and just steps from the beach!), this gem of a house is just as beautiful as the property that surrounds it.
If you’re planning on visiting, it’s definitely worth adding an Adamson House tour to your itinerary to fully learn about and experience this piece of Malibu history. In this quick guide, I’ll go over the different tour options, and the key things you need to know before checking out the iconic property.
Adamson House, Malibu: A Brief History & Description
Malibu’s Adamson House (located at 23200 Pacific Coast Highway) is designated as a National Historic Site and a California Historic Landmark, and is operated under California State Parks.
Adamson House was built by Merritt and Rhoda Adamson in 1929, on a piece of land that was given to the couple by Rhoda’s parents as a wedding gift. Both the interior and the exterior of the Spanish-style home heavily feature the famous Malibu tiles made by the now-defunct Malibu Potteries company, which was founded by Rhoda Adamson’s mother. These gorgeous tiles took influence from Mayan, Moroccan, Moorish, Persian, and Saracen designs.
Beyond the gorgeous house, what makes this spot so iconic is the beautiful location. From one end of the property, you have incredible views of Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach (pictured below on the right). The opposite side of the property overlooks the Malibu Lagoon State Beach (pictured below on the left).
The home was at risk of demolition in the late 1960s. Thankfully it was spared, thanks in part to the then-Chancellor of Pepperdine University, who temporarily moved into the home. Around that time, the Malibu Historical Society was formed in an effort to maintain and protect Adamson House, and in 1983, the house and property was opened as a museum.
Why You’ll Want to Add a Tour of Adamson House to Your Itinerary
Even if you are only spending a day in Malibu, I highly suggest including a tour of the Adamson House in your itinerary. These house tours are led by trained State Park volunteers, who are incredibly knowledgeable and engaging (after all, they are volunteering their time to show off the stunning property!). A tour is also the only way you’ll be able to see the interior of the house, as guests aren’t allowed to do self-guided tours inside.
The exterior alone is undeniably beautiful, but going inside gives you a different glimpse into what life looked like for the Adamson Family. After many visits where I only strolled through the gardens, I’m glad I finally took the time last year to do a guided tour of the interior!
Adamson House Tour Options
There are two different tour options at Adamson House. Tickets (which are cash only) cost $7 for adults and $2 for children ages 6 to 17 (kids 5 and under are free).
Most guests will take the Adamson House Tour, which is available Wednesday through Saturday from 11am to 2pm (the last tour starts at 2pm). During this approximately 45-minute guided tour, a docent will guide you through the house while talking about the history of the land, the house, and the Adamson Family.
The second tour is the Adamson House Garden Tour, which happens every Friday at 10am. This includes the house tour, as well as a tour through the stunning property gardens. Don’t worry if you miss this tour – you can still explore the gardens on your own!
Note: photos aren’t allowed inside the house (which is why you won’t see any interior photos in this guide!). However, the docent will allow you to take photos when you are on the balcony of the house. Bring your camera, because you’ll get amazing views of the property and the coast!
Regardless of which tour you choose, be sure to make a stop by the Malibu Lagoon Museum before or after. It’s located off the entrance courtyard of the property, and is where you’ll buy your tickets for the tour. While very small, this free museum gives a great overview of the history of the property.
If you’d like, you can also stop by the (even smaller!) gift shop, which is located on the property, between the house and the PCH.
Visiting Without a Tour
If you aren’t able to visit the property when tours are operating, I do still recommend you take the time to visit the property (which is open daily from 8am to sunset).
While you won’t be able to go inside the house, you’re still able to see many examples of different Malibu tiles on the exterior. The gardens and the surrounding property are also stunning, and well worth the visit. I’ve visited many times without doing an interior tour, and always enjoy spending time exploring the peaceful property!
Key Things to Know Before Visiting Adamson House
As a final note, here are some key things you need to know before you visit Adamson House:
- Tours are cash only, and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Larger groups (10+ people) need to make a reservation at least 30 days in advance.
- There is no parking at Adamson House. You can either park at the beach parking lot that borders the property, or find a street spot on the Pacific Coast Highway.
- Tours are not available when it is raining. However, you can still enjoy the exterior and the gardens.
- Keep in mind that weddings are hosted on the exterior of the property on Saturdays and Sundays from March through November. On Saturdays, vendors can start setting up at 2pm, and on Sundays, they may be setting up as early as 9am. While you can still visit prior to the event start, you may want to try to avoid being there during these times to fully experience the gardens (without an event set up in the way!).
Have a beautiful time exploring Adamson House! Here are some additional travel guides to help you plan your SoCal vacation:
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