“Our residents and all future generations will have access to this important piece of history, the very foundation of Santa Clarita,” said Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste.
After being closed for six years, the William S. Hart Museum is reopening following a transfer of ownership from Los Angeles County to the City of Santa Clarita.
This means that, moving forward, the city has full control over all operations at the historic property.
“This is a treasure for the city of Santa Clarita, but it is also a treasure for the county of Los Angeles,” said Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
The mansion, once home to silent film actor William S. Hart, had been closed for several years before reopening under city management.
“When we were under the Natural History Museum, we were an afterthought and it’s really nice to see this place coming to the forefront and being a big deal for the city,” said John Smith, a docent for the Hart Mansion.
The transfer of ownership gives Santa Clarita full control over the mansion’s operations, including maintenance, programming and public access. City leaders say taking over the property allows them to better preserve and integrate it into the community.
“The city of Santa Clarita and the county work well together because we both represent the same people. It’s important for us to teach our youth about the history, recognizing that we are moving forward, but it all started somewhere,” said Barger.
“This has been a really long journey. This is the most incredible place we have in the Santa Clarita Valley,” said Weste.
With the transfer of ownership officially complete, the Hart Mansion is now open to the public under the City of Santa Clarita’s control.
