Eames House, arboretum and other L.A. cultural gems threatened by fire: updates
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The extent of the damage caused by Southern California’s epic fires on cultural destinations is coming into sharper focus as reports roll in from Pacific Palisades, Altadena and beyond.
Some early news coverage and social-media chatter implied that the TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Bowl and Magic Castle were close to burning when, in fact, those spots never were in immediate danger. Rumors that the historic Eames House burned proved not true, as The Times confirmed that this gem of midcentury design — one of Los Angeles’ most important architectural landmarks — remained undamaged.
Update:
12:17 p.m. Jan. 10, 2025This article was updated after an interview with the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden as well as updates from various other institutions.
Laura Begley and Evan Dresman had just moved into their dream Gregory Ain home and were preparing to sell their fixer-upper in Altadena’s Janes Village. Fire destroyed both.
Still, some of Los Angeles’ cultural treasures and historic architecture have been destroyed or remain at risk. Here is the status of institutions near fire zones; check back for our updates as the emergency continues to unfold.
Palisades fire
Will Rogers’ home: The actor’s ranch house, part of Will Rogers State Historic Park, was destroyed in the Palisades fire. In the 1920s Rogers built a 31-room home with 11 bathrooms, a guesthouse, a golf course, stables and a corral on about 360 acres. In 1944 the compound and grounds became a park and museum after his widow, Betty, donated them to the state. “The Rogers family is devastated by the loss of the California ranch and the overwhelming loss of the community,” Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, the actor’s great-granddaughter, said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to all those neighbors who have lost their homes.”
Coverage of the fires ravaging Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades and Pasadena, including stories about the devastation, issues firefighters faced and the weather.
Topanga Ranch Motel: The historic row of rustic cabins, built in 1919 and once owned by William Randolph Hearst, was one of the last remaining examples of early 20th century bungalow motels before it was destroyed. The motel had fallen on hard times, but in September, the state park system and partners promised to refurbish the motel rather than demolish it. “California State Parks mourns the loss of these treasured natural and cultural resources, and our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area,” State Parks Director Armando Quintero said in a statement.
Villa Aurora: The Spanish-style Villa Aurora mansion, built in 1943 for the German author Lion Feuchtwanger and his wife, Marta, and the site of gatherings for German and Jewish immigrants during World War II, said Saturday morning that the structure is undamaged, contrary to earlier fears. A representative said an evaluation of the interior for smoke damage had not been completed. Villa Aurora, which has been an artists’ residence since 1995, contains historic furnishings and a library. A statement on its website had described “the situation in immediate vicinity of Villa Aurora” as “especially dire.”
Thomas Mann House: The two-story villa completed in 1942 for writer and Nobel Prize laureate Mann and his family had sustained no damage in the Palisades fire as of Friday morning, a representative said. Mann and his family lived in the residence from 1942 through 1952, during Mann’s exile from Germany. The house has hosted noteworthy concerts and offers residency programs for visiting fellows.
The Getty Villa: J. Paul Getty Trust President and Chief Executive Katherine E. Fleming said Wednesday that the Getty Villa in the Palisades was still safe. Trees and vegetation caught fire Tuesday, but the staff and collection of antiquities were unharmed. Fleming later offered a play-by-play of the harrowing day. The Villa and the Getty Center in Brentwood will be closed through Thursday and perhaps longer.
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum: The beloved open-air Topanga theater — known for its annual Shakespeare-under-the-stars performances — is under a mandatory evacuation order. A representative said that the complex was safe.
Theatre Palisades: The theater, founded in 1963 by three TV writers, appeared in news reports to have been largely destroyed in the wildfire. The organization’s website said that all operations at its 125-seat community theater are suspended until further notice.
Eames House: The historic 1949 home — formally known as Case Study House No. 8 — reconfirmed Monday that it remains unharmed. “Windblown fires continue to claim other homes in the community and bring the fires nearer,” Eames Foundation founder Lucia Atwood, granddaughter of legendary designer Charles Eames, said by email last week. “We are closely monitoring the situation and the Eames Foundation has taken every precaution to protect the site.” The foundation’s team removed some objects from the house on Tuesday before evacuating the building themselves.
In 2008, when The Times assembled a panel of residential architecture experts to choose their favorite L.A. houses of all time, the Eames House finished No. 4, ahead of other landmarks such as John Lautner’s space-age Chemosphere, Greene & Greene’s beloved Gamble House in Pasadena and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House. The accompanying photo gallery beautifully captured the eclectic bohemian modern vibe that continues to inspire generations of design fans. The house has faced fire threats before, most notably the 2019 Getty fire, whose mandatory evacuation area included the Eames property.
Eaton fire
Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden: At the 127-acre oasis in Arcadia south of the 210 Freeway, Superintendent Timothy Phillips described the post-windstorm scene as “carnage” Friday but said the damage was less than that of a severe storm in 2011. The arboretum, which sits south of the mandatory Eaton fire evacuation zone, will remain closed through the weekend, possibly longer. Phillips told The Times that more than a dozen workers are clearing debris with chainsaws and removing broken branches trapped high in tree canopies. Living collections curator James Henrich is going tree to tree to catalog the damage. “I’m looking at one silk floss tree. It’s about 90 feet tall, and half the tree has fallen down,” Phillips said. “And as it fell, it took out limbs from other trees.”
The Gamble House: The historic Craftsman home built in Pasadena in 1906 for Procter & Gamble founder James Gamble’s son David B. Gamble, is unharmed but remains part of a Level 2 evacuation warning, meaning a mandatory evacuation could come but hasn’t yet. Out of an abundance of caution, a representative said, three car-loads of “precious objects from the house” have been moved off-site. The house will remain closed through at least Tuesday.
Descanso Gardens: The 125-acre historic La Cañada Flintridge property filled with winding pathways and lush landscapes including a Japanese garden and an oak forest, is in the evacuation zone for the Eaton fire. But a Descanso representative said Wednesday that the grounds were safe and out of immediate danger. The gardens will remain closed until further notice.
Norton Simon Museum: The museum, which has more than 44,000 objects in its collection including European sculptures, paintings and tapestries as well as Asian art and woodblock prints, sits outside of the evacuation area. “Our grounds are kept clear of brush and our building is constructed with fire resistant materials,” the museum said. It will remain closed through Thursday.
Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens: Nestled in the flatlands of San Marino, away from the hills of Pasadena and Altadena, the Huntington and its historic buildings, significant paintings, priceless books and gorgeous gardens are not close to evacuation zones. The museum posted Saturday, however, that it will be closed through Wednesday, possibly longer. A representative said a few trees were lost in high winds, but damage has been minor. “While we are currently outside the range of active fires, our buildings are equipped with features designed to enhance the safety of our art and library collections. Our HVAC systems continue to maintain safe collection storage environments, including the filtering of outside air,” the representative wrote.
Updates
9:43 a.m. Jan. 11, 2025: The status of some landmarks including Villa Aurora and the Huntington was updated or clarified.
2:39 p.m. Jan. 9, 2025: This article was updated to include new information on Villa Aurora.
9:40 a.m. Jan. 9, 2025: This article was updated to include information on the Sunset fire in the hills above Hollywood.
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