Lauren Lockhart, Executive Director

“As another year comes to a close, I’m reminded how every detail on our historic campus tells a story, and one continues to resonate:

Virginia smiled as the sturdy redwood beams were hoisted into place. A beautiful and practical addition to her seaside cottage, and one that would support the recently planted wisteria vines. Her sister Ellen’s favored architect, Irving Gill, was wise to suggest this improvement.

Decades later, painted a peaceful shade of yellow, these same beams welcomed hundreds of book lovers through its sun dappled entry. The redwood beams were a portal to a million new worlds.

After many years, the beams were tired and worn by ocean air and the weight of the now thick wisteria vines bursting with purple, fragrant blooms. Volunteers gathered to carefully construct a new redwood structure, one that honored the original beams’ steady presence. Soon, the cottage would reopen as a museum, inviting guests to explore new worlds through its exhibitions and programs.

The service of these beams would not be forgotten. A ukelele was carefully crafted from their remnants, producing bright tones from its strings.

Today, this one-of-a-kind object, resonant with history, is preserved in our collection by our small, dedicated team. It represents one of thousands of stories we are honored to care for, and one example of our stewardship of our region’s history for more than 60 years.

Your support preserves the tangible pieces of our shared past, from the redwood beams of a seaside pergola to the ukulele that carries their echo, and keeps our exhibitions, education programs, and historic campus thriving for generations to come.

As the year draws to a close, please consider making a donation to the La Jolla Historical Society. Together, we can safeguard the places, objects, and stories that make the region’s history so uniquely alive, and continue to inspire all who walk through our doors.

Your support preserves the tangible pieces of our shared past, from the redwood beams of a seaside pergola to the ukelele that carries their echo, and keeps our exhibitions, education programs, and historic campus thriving for generations to come.

Together, we can safeguard the places, objects, and stories that make the region’s history so uniquely alive, and continue to inspire all who walk through our doors.”