What is the Getty Villa? What to know about famous museum threatened by Palisades Fire
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.
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 Paste BN. "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
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.
What is the Getty Villa?
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.
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.
Contributing: Thao Nguyen