Third Street Promenade facts for kids
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A picture taken in the heart of the Promenade
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| Location | Santa Monica, California, USA |
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| Opening date | November 8, 1965 |
| Developer | The Hahn Company and The Rouse Company |
| Management | Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. |
| Owner | Multiple owners, including Federal Realty Investment Trust, KLM Equities. |
| Parking | Structured |
| Website | Third Street Promenade and Downtown Santa Monica |
The Third Street Promenade is a super popular outdoor spot in Santa Monica, California. It's a special street where only people can walk, not cars! This area is full of shops, restaurants, and fun entertainment. It first opened a long time ago, on November 8, 1965.
Many people from all over Greater Los Angeles love to visit the Promenade. It's easy to get there by bus or train. You can also find it close to famous places like the Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Ocean. Because of its great location and sunny weather, it's a favorite place for tourists too!
Contents
History of the Promenade
Third Street has been a busy business area in Santa Monica for a very long time. It started in the late 1800s. On November 8, 1965, three blocks of Third Street were changed into a special street just for people walking. It was called the Santa Monica Mall back then.
Even though it was popular, by the late 1970s, the mall needed an update. A new indoor shopping center, Santa Monica Place, was built nearby in 1980. Famous architect Frank Gehry designed it. The city decided to make the walking street even better.
The newly designed and renamed Third Street Promenade opened on September 16, 1989. This big project helped make Downtown Santa Monica a lively place. Later, Santa Monica Place was also updated. It reopened as an open-air shopping and dining spot in 2010.
Today, a group called Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. helps manage the Promenade. They work to keep the area fun and successful for everyone.
What You Can See and Do
Cool Public Art
One of the coolest things you'll see on the Third Street Promenade are the dinosaur sculptures. They were made by French artists Les Lalanne. These giant dinosaur shapes are actually made from plants, like big green bushes! They even "spit" streams of water from their mouths, which is a fun surprise.
Around the Promenade, you'll find multi-level parking garages. These garages also have amazing art! Look for sculptures and murals on the outside and inside. Artists like Gilbert Luján and Peter Shire created some of these artworks.
Fun Entertainment
When the Promenade was being planned, people wanted a place where everyone could gather and relax. So, it was designed to be a lively spot for shopping and entertainment. You'll often see street performers here. These performers are called "buskers."
On a busy night, especially in the summer, the street comes alive! You might see singers, musicians playing guitars, magicians, and even dancers. There are also clowns and drummers. These artists line up along Third Street, ready to entertain you. It's like a big outdoor show!
Photo gallery
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Trees along Third Street lit up for the Holidays.
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Broadway Theatre on Third Street.
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Businesses on Third Street, between Utah and Oregon (now Santa Monica Blvd.), 1880.
