By Lookout Staff

June 24, 2010 -- The Santa Monica History Museum will host a 135th birthday celebration for the City on July 11 at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club. The celebration will include a history exhibit, nostalgic entertainment by the Santa Monica Oceanaries and a historical film and cake.

Tickets for the event are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Children 12 and under can attend for free. For more information, call 310-395-2290.

The Santa Monica History Museum has provided the following facts on this City’s history. More will be provided at the birthday celebration:

- Santa Monica was originally a Spanish land grant given to Don Francisco Sepulveda by the king of Spain in 1828. Colonel Robert S. Baker purchased the land from the Sepulveda heirs in 1872 and in 1874 sold three-quarters interest of it to Sen. John P. Jones, a multi-millionaire. Together, they planned a railroad, a wharf and a town.

- On July 10, 1875, a map of Santa Monica was recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles.

- On July 15, 1875, the first lots were sold from $50 to $150. Within nine months, Santa Monica had 1,000 people and 160 houses.