Katherine, an 82-year-old woman, joyfully reunited with her cat, Aggie, two months after being separated during the destructive Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. The fire, which raged for nearly a month, claimed 12 lives and destroyed thousands of structures, severely impacting the surrounding area but spared the Getty Villa Museum. This notable art museum, situated in the Pacific Palisades, has been closed since January 7 for safety.
Katherine Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, announced the reopening of the villa on May 19, thanking staff and first responders for their efforts. The museum will welcome visitors starting June 27, operating Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To manage the aftermath, there will be a daily limit of 500 reservations, and parking will be charged at $25.
The Palisades Fire came alarmingly close to the Getty Villa, with visual evidence of smoke encroaching on the site. Though some vegetation was burned, protective measures, including on-site water storage and air-handling systems, successfully safeguarded the museum’s galleries and archives. Following extensive cleanup efforts, more than 1,300 fire-damaged trees were removed, resulting in visible changes to the landscape.
The Getty Villa was established in 1974 by oil magnate J. Paul Getty, designed to showcase the art and culture of ancient civilizations. Upon reopening, it will feature the exhibition “The Kingdom of Pylos: Warrior-Princes of Ancient Greece,” highlighting over 230 artifacts from the Mycenaean civilization, running through January 2026. This marks a significant cultural moment after the devastation caused by the fire.
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