What is the Getty Villa? What to know about famous museum threatened by Palisades Fire
Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
Updated
3 min read
Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to remove an image that falsely identified the Villa de Leon as the Getty Villa.
One of Los Angeles' most prized gems is at risk from the raging Palisades Fire, with flames seen on the iconic Los Angeles property.
Aerial footage and images showed the fast-growing fire approaching the world-renowned Getty Villa museum, which is closed to the public on Tuesdays.
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The villa site was quickly closed to non-emergency staff once the fire was reported around 10 a.m. local time, according to Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. The villa will remain closed through at least Jan. 13.
"We, of course, are very concerned for our neighbors in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and the surrounding areas," Fleming said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Fortunately, Getty had made extensive efforts to clear brush from the surrounding area as part of its fire mitigation efforts throughout the year."
She continued to say that "some trees and vegetation on site have burned, but no structures are on fire and staff and the collection remain safe."
Fleming added that "state-of-the-art air handling systems" are preventing smoke from reaching museum galleries and library archives
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The blaze, which has burned nearly 3,000 acres, has burned structures, sent people fleeing for their lives and prompted evacuation orders in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood as crews battle amid a severe Southern California wind storm. More than 10,000 households and 13,000 structures are threatened, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said at news conference.
To those who aren't familiar with the famous educational center and art museum here's what to know.
A fire burns at the Getty Villa during a wildfire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of west Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2025.
The Getty Villa is an educational center and art museum located the coastal Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. The museum honors the arts and cultures of various classic civilizations from the ancient Greeks to the Romans.
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Typically open Wednesdays to Mondays between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the center offers free admission to see antiquities and statues dating back to 6,500 BC, as well as a library and garden.
The villa is owned by the J. Paul Getty Trust, which also operates a separate campus known as the Getty Center in the Brentwood neighborhood.
When did the Getty Villa open?
The Getty Villa opened in 1974 by Billionaire oilman J. Paul Getty, according to the nonprofit Los Angeles Conservancy. The art patron modeled the site off a Roman country house buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Three decades after its debut the villa underwent an eight-year, $275 million renovation, reopening to the public in 2006. The center features a rare collection of artifacts and antiquities from Greek, Roman and Etruscan art.
What events are held at Getty Villa?
The Getty Villa is known for hosting Hollywood soirées, prominent art exhibits and high-powered political meetings. Here are photos of the villa and its swanky events over the years.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau arrive for a Summit of the Americas dinner at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, California, June 9, 2022.
Then-Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (L) jokes with Britain's then-Prime Minister Tony Blair at a private reception at the Getty Villa in Los Angeles on July 31, 2006.
US President Joe Biden speaks during a dinner with heads of state, government and their spouses as part of the Ninth Summit of the Americas at the Getty Villa in Los Angeles on June 9, 2022.
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A man cleans the red carpet before guests arrive to a Leaders' Dinner at the Getty Villa on June 9, 2022 in Los Angeles. U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden hosted the leaders from the Summit of the Americas after the first full day of meetings.
People view ancient art as the Getty Villa, one of the two locations of the J. Paul Getty Museum, reopened following the COVID-19 pandemic with the exhibition, "Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins," in Los Angeles on April 21, 2021.
A fountain stands in the courtyard of the Getty Villa.
View of the atmosphere at The Getty + C Magazine Dinner at The Getty Villa on Oct. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. The Getty Villa has been the host of many Hollywood soirees, art exhibits and political events.
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View of the atmosphere at The Getty + C Magazine Dinner at The Getty Villa on Oct. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. The Getty Villa has been the host of many Hollywood soirees, art exhibits and political events.
View of the atmosphere at The Getty + C Magazine Dinner at The Getty Villa on Oct. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. The Getty Villa has been the host of many Hollywood soirees, art exhibits and political events.
Visitors look at Roman busts at the Getty Villa Museum in Los Angeles on April 18, 2011. The Getty Villa exhibits classical antiquities collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan art. The Villa is modeled after a Roman country house buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Visitors enjoy the garden at the Getty Villa Museum in Los Angeles on April 18, 2011. The Getty Villa exhibits classical antiquities collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan art. The Villa is modeled after a Roman country house buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD.
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A modern replica of the bronze statuary from the Villa dei Papiri (L) is exhibited in the garden of the Getty Villa in Los Angeles on Oct. 12, 2006. The Getty Villa reopened to the public in 2006 after an eight-year, $275 million renovation and houses the J. Paul Getty Museum's extensive classical antiquities collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan art. The Villa is modeled after a Roman country house buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
A view from above the outer peristyle at the Getty Villa in January 2006 in Los Angeles. The Getty Villa reopened to the public in 2006 after an eight-year, $275 million renovation and houses the J. Paul Getty Museum's extensive classical antiquities collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan art. The Villa is modeled after a Roman country house buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
A visitor walks through the atrium of the Getty Villa in January, 2006 in Los Angeles. The Getty Villa reopened to the public in 2006 after an eight-year, $275 million renovation and houses the J. Paul Getty Museum's extensive classical antiquities collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan art. The Villa is modeled after a Roman country house buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
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