Bergamot (arts center) facts for kids
Bergamot Station Arts Center is a cool place in Santa Monica where you can find many different art galleries. It's often listed as a top spot for culture in tourist guides. This campus-like area opened on September 17, 1994. The city of Santa Monica owns it, and the Worthe Group currently manages it.
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History of Bergamot Station
From 1875 to 1953, the area known as "Bergamot Station" was a train stop and a place to store train cars. First, it served the steam-powered Los Angeles and Independence Railroad, and later, the Santa Monica Air Line. The station got its name from a wildflower called Wild Bergamot. This flower is native to North America and used to grow a lot in this area.
From Trains to Factories
After passenger trains stopped running, the railway was only used for carrying light goods. There was no longer a need to store train cars. So, the Southern Pacific Railroad rented the land to different companies for small factories. Warehouse buildings were built there. First, a company packed celery, then an ice-making plant operated there. Finally, it became the main factory for American Appliance water heaters.
A New Idea for the Land
By the late 1980s, the train line was not used much and was eventually abandoned. To stop the land from being split up and sold, the City of Santa Monica bought the whole area from Southern Pacific Railroad in 1987. At that time, the city hoped to have a new light rail service on the same path within 10 years. This meant the site would be needed for a train yard and a passenger station.
American Appliance moved out in 1993, leaving a large empty industrial area. Even with the best plans, the new light rail was still many years away. The City wanted to find a good use for the site. They talked to Wayne Blank, who develops properties and co-owns the Shoshana Wayne Gallery. Mr. Blank had already helped the City of Santa Monica with another project. He had turned an empty city-owned airport hangar into art studios for artists.
Creating the Arts Center
The City was happy with the airport project. So, they asked Mr. Blank to come up with an art-related idea for the Bergamot site. Mr. Blank, along with a famous architect named Lawrence Scarpa from Brooks + Scarpa, designed a campus-like complex. They made sure it still looked industrial and simple. Mr. Blank then looked for a partner. He found Tom Patchett, who collects art and writes for TV. Mr. Patchett was looking for a place to store and maybe show his separate collections of contemporary art and old American items.
Bergamot Station and the Metro Expo Line
The arts complex became very popular. So popular, in fact, that the original plan for the train line was changed. In 2010, the second phase of the Metro Expo Line was approved. Because of this, land next to Bergamot Station was bought for the new train line. The 26th Street/Bergamot station opened on May 20, 2016. This stop on the new Expo Line light rail is just north of the arts center's entrance.
The Worthe Group manages Bergamot Station Arts Center. Since 2022, Redcar Properties LLC has managed the site. As of 2023, there are 18 art galleries, two restaurants, and other businesses located in the center.
