The History

The La Jolla Historical Society is a 501c3 nonprofit public benefit corporation that was formally incorporated in 1964. At its origin nearly fifty years ago, the organization embarked on a program of practice that continues to the present-day: collecting historic photographs, public records, private documents, and newspaper archives reflecting La Jolla’s past, recording oral histories of those who have made significant contributions to the community, and serving as educator of La Jolla’s heritage. The Society also serves as community reviewer and advocate for the City of San Diego regarding the historic designation of properties located in La Jolla, and in 2014 was recognized with the preservation advancement award by the City of San Diego Historical Resources Board, and was named 2014 Preservationists of the Year by the Save Our Heritage Organisation. The Society operates a campus of three historic buildings it owns and maintains within the Scripps/Gill cultural zone built in the early 1900s. The 1904 Wisteria Cottage, which was gifted to the Society in 2008 by Ellen Revelle, has been restored and rehabilitated with expanded, museum-standard gallery space for changing exhibitions and educational programs. The Society also operates a 1909 cottage serving as offices and providing public research space, and a 1916 Carriage House retrofitted for state-of-the-art storage of the Society’s archive and collection. The Society continues to develop an expanding list of programs and collaborations to link today’s audiences with the rich history of La Jolla’s past. This includes exhibitions, lecture series, education camps for youth, collaborative programs with educational and cultural institutions, oral history initiatives, and popular annual community events such as the Secret Garden Tour of La Jolla and the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance and Motor Car Classic.