La Jolla Historical Society

The Venturi pergola consists of white columns with grey wood beams and sits outside in a garden surrounded by a cobblestone wall. The text at the bottom reads: Historic La Jolla, The Venturi Pergola and Garden.

Photograph of six men with dark green shirts with ribbons holding gourd rattles and singing.

Photograph of pink house on a corner with trees and flowers. The ocean and a park are visible in the background. Text at the bottom reads: Historic Self-Guided Tours. Explore La Jolla through architecture.

Hours

Picture of a colorful, historic theater poster from the Unicorn Theater for the month of February with a drawing of a yellow sun with a face. The rays of the sun look like hair. On the sun's rays are listed the names of the movies playing at the theater.

Historic La Jolla

Photograph looking up into a tree. The branches are a light colored wood and the leaves are dark green and shaped into balls. On the lower left cornier it reads, Events.

Events

The mission of the La Jolla Historical Society is to inspire and empower the community to make La Jolla’s diverse past a relevant part of contemporary life, encouraging exploration of the past in ways that inform the present and shape the future.

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Current Exhibition

September 23, 2023 – January 21, 2024
Tigers, Unicorns, and Puppy Dog Tales. This exhibit celebrates the fantasy and wonder that was – and is – Green Tiger Press, the Unicorn Cinema and the Mithras Bookstore. Although operating in the different mediums of an independent publishing house (Green Tiger), a film venture (The Unicorn) and a bookstore (Mithras), all three shared a common pursuit – presenting and sharing whatever they found to be truly marvelous, and they also shared common founders in Harold and Sandra Darling.

La Jolla Modernism Home Tour

Saturday, October 14

Architecture enthusiasts, design devotees, and history buffs alike won't want to miss this unique opportunity explore the midcentury Modern gems of La Jolla. This one-day tour will feature a curated selection of historic, midcentury Modern private residences opening their doors to tour-goers throughout the day.

Panel Discussion

Early Modern: Rudolph Schindler and Pueblo Ribera

R.M. Schindler led the wave of a remarkable influx of German speaking talent into Southern California from the 1920s to 1940s. Cultural critic and historian Alex Ross will discuss Schindler’s early role among German writers, composers, filmmakers, and architects who shaped an entirely new aesthetic by merging regional conditions with European modernist ideas. Writer and historian Keith York will share his insights on RM Schindler and his relationship with Irving Gill and discuss why Pueblo Ribera becomes a key component in San Diego’s history of embracing Modernism. Walk through Pueblo Ribera with Reena Racki and understand why the aesthetics and characteristics of Schindler’s Pueblo Ribera have earned it international significance.