Kinney-Tabor House, Venice Beach Travel Guide

Discover the Kinney-Tabor House in Venice: A landmark of friendship, perseverance, and Venice's Black history.

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Kinney-Tabor House

The Kinney-Tabor House in Venice, CA, stands as a testament to the bond between Abbot Kinney, the founder of Venice, and Irvin Tabor, his chauffeur and confidant. Built in 1906, the house was later gifted to Tabor, who moved it to its current location to overcome racial discrimination, making it a symbol of loyalty and perseverance.

A brief summary to Kinney-Tabor House

1310 6th Ave, Venice, Venice, California, 90291, US

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Kinney-Tabor House.

Explore the Oakwood neighborhood to learn more about the history and culture of Venice's African American community.
Take a walk or bike ride along the nearby Venice Canals to see where the house originally stood.
Visit the nearby First Baptist Church of Venice, a significant landmark in the Oakwood community.

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Getting There

Walking

The Kinney-Tabor House is located in the Oakwood neighborhood of Venice. From the intersection of Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Venice Boulevard, walk north on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, then turn left onto Santa Clara Avenue. Walk west for two blocks, then turn left onto 6th Avenue. The Kinney-Tabor House will be on your left. The walk is approximately 15 minutes.
Public Transport

The Metro Rapid Line 733 stops at the Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library on the corner of Abbot Kinney & Venice Boulevards. From there, walk north on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, then turn left onto Santa Clara Avenue. Walk west for two blocks, then turn left onto 6th Avenue. The Kinney-Tabor House will be on your left. Alternatively, Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus Route 1 stops at Abbot Kinney and Venice Boulevard. Follow the walking directions above. A single fare on the Big Blue Bus or Metro is $1.25.
Driving

From Venice Boulevard, turn north onto Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Turn left onto Santa Clara Avenue and then left again onto 6th Avenue. The Kinney-Tabor House will be on your left. Parking in the area can be challenging. Free and metered street parking is available, with time limits. Metered parking lots are located between Abbot Kinney Blvd and Electric Avenue, spanning from Venice Blvd to Santa Clara. Parking rates vary, but expect to pay around $1-3 per hour. Be sure to check posted signs for parking restrictions.

Discover more about Kinney-Tabor House

The Kinney-Tabor House, located on 6th Avenue in Venice's Oakwood neighborhood, is more than just a historical landmark; it's a powerful narrative of friendship, loyalty, and defiance against racial prejudice. Originally constructed around 1906, the house first served as a bunkhouse for canal workers during the development of Venice of America. Later, it functioned as the Cosmos Club, a social club, and even a girls' grammar school.Around 1915, Abbot Kinney, the visionary behind Venice, acquired the property and transformed it into his family home. Kinney and Tabor developed a close relationship. Kinney bequeathed the house to Irvin Tabor, his African-American chauffeur, in his will. However, due to the racial covenants in place at the time, Tabor was unable to live in the predominantly white neighborhood along the canals.In an act of defiance, Tabor moved the house in three pieces to its current location in the Oakwood neighborhood, a historically Black community in Venice. The house became a symbol of the African American community in Venice. Irvin Tabor lived in the house until his death in 1987. The house was declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2008. Today, the Kinney-Tabor House stands as a reminder of Venice's complex history and the enduring power of friendship in the face of adversity.