Malibu History

The modern history of Malibu starts with the Spanish explorers of California, a heritage that continues to be expressed today in street and neighborhood names as well as architectural styles. The Spanish land owners were followed by Americans who loved the unique place nestled between the mountains and the sea. Today, the huge Rancho Malibu is divided up into commerical and residential parcels of all sizes, but Malibu is still loved by residents and visitors alike for the same age-old reasons.

The history of Malibu is described in these pages of MalibuComplete.com:

• Spanish Exploration & Early Land Owners
• The Rindge Family
• Development & Diversification
• First sales of Malibu property and the origin of the Malibu Colony
• Malibu during World War II and the late 1940s
• Surfing safari, the 1950s and 1960s in Malibu
• Malibu 1970-1991
• Development of Malibu 1970-1991
• Pepperdine's Malibu Campus
• Public Services
• Malibu Architecture
• Malibu Development & the Coastal Act of 1972
• Malibu Pier
• Malibu Lagoon Evolves
• Malibu Disasters 1970-1991
• Steps Toward the City of Malibu
• City of Malibu
• Malibu Development since 1991
• Malibu vs. the Coastal Commission
• Malibu Chili Cook Off Land Purchase
• Malibu Issues Today
• Mayors of Malibu
• Malibu City Council

Sources and Recommended Books about Malibu's Development

These books offer a wonderful introduction to Malibu and its history, with many specifics and details not generally available. Highly recommended.

• Malibu: California's Most Famous Seaside Community, by Marian Hall, is a delightful book with the details of Malibu's development from the original Malibu Beach Movie Colony up to 2005, with many beautiful current and historical photos illustrating the narrative.
• Malibu : A Century of Living by the Sea by Julius Shulman and Juergen Nogai, is basically an architecture book but is also far more. Its flawless photos of Malibu homes span the entire history from the Rindge Rancho to the 2000s with insightful commentary on the trends and architects who created the trends in each period. Many of the photos show more than the home, supplying a glimpse of life in Malibu at the time.
• My Fifty Years in Malibu by Dorothy Stotsenberg, is a rich serving of personal reminiscence and research about Malibu's history, recent past, and current issues illustrated with an excellent collection of historical photos. The Stotsenbergs moved to Malibu in 1949 and have been actively involved in the community since. The privately printed book is available in book stores in the Malibu area.
• WW II Homeland Defense: U.S. Coast Guard Beach Patrol in Malibu, 1942-1944, by Ronald L. Rindge, is full of details, including the author's personal memories and experiences, of Malibu during World War II. Available at the gift shop of the Malibu Lagoon Museum if out of print elsewhere.
• City of Malibu, General Plan, November 1995

In addition to the above publications, the archives of the Malibu Times -- articles by Rick Wallace in particular -- are invaluable, providing fine-grained details to illuminate the rich texture of Malibu's past and present. Other periodicals from Malibu, the Los Angeles area, and beyond have written about Malibu and its inhabitants. The Los Angeles Public Library, Malibu Branch, houses many unique items of Malibu history which can be uncovered there.

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