Now on View: Food & Family at the Santa Monica History Museum

The Quinn Research Center is proud to present Food & Family: African American and Intercultural Traditions in Santa Monica, a new exhibition now on view in the Quinn Gallery at the Santa Monica History Museum. This powerful and community-centered exhibition explores how food, migration, and shared traditions have shaped the identities and homes of generations of Santa Monica residents.

Drawn from the archives of both the Quinn Research Center and the Santa Monica History Museum, the exhibition features photographs, oral histories, cookbooks, utensils, maps, and other materials that reveal how everyday cooking and shared meals help preserve culture and build community. By examining the connections between migration, memory, and culinary tradition, Food & Family offers visitors new insight into the city’s richly layered, cross-cultural history and highlights how food continues to bring people together across neighborhoods and generations.

The exhibition’s opening reception took place on January 24, 2026, and is currently on view and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to experience this exciting project during this ongoing run. Community members are also invited to share their own recipes and food memories, helping continue the living story of Santa Monica’s diverse food heritage.

We invite everyone to visit the museum, explore the exhibition, and celebrate the ways food connects us to family, history, and community.