Explore the landscape of the historic Sunnylands estate, completed in 1966, and the 2012 opening of the new Center & Gardens, to discover what can happen when thoughtful midcentury and contemporary landscapes converge.

Conversations between clients and architects informed the design of both landscapes. The historic site references an East Coast estate, and provided privacy and respite for the owners, Walter and Leonore Annenberg. The second site, a 15-acre desert garden, was designed as a public space to welcome visitors and share the Annenberg legacy.

Different designs and different purposes now live side by side, raising questions of interpretation and maintenance as those landscapes continue to evolve.

Michaeleen Gallagher is Director of Sunnylands Center & Gardens, where she oversees Retail, Tours, Education, and internship programs. She joined The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands in 2011 and established its Department of Education and Environmental Programs.

Her career spans science, education, museums, and the arts, with experience in environmental science, wildlife research and rescue, and museum education. She holds an M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver and a B.A. in Art History from UC Santa Barbara.

Michaeleen has held leadership roles with the California Association of Museums and the International Environmental Communication Association and serves on the CAM Strategic Action Committee and the board of Nickerson-Rossi Dance. Her publications and exhibitions include Curating Canopy: Trees at Sunnylands, Flight Plan: The Birds of Sunnylands, and Art & Nature: The Gardens at Sunnylands

Sunnylands