After 62 years, La Jolla Historical Society is now officially dubbed The Museum of History and Culture La Jolla.

The organization’s mission, however, remains unchanged: To inspire and empower the community to make the region’s diverse past a relevant part of contemporary life.

The museum’s continuing role is to serve as a resource where residents and visitors explore history, art, ideas, and culture.

The former La Jolla Historical Society campus is on property once part of Ellen Browning Scripps’ extended family estate. It was the home of renowned La Jolla philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps’ half-sister, Virginia Scripps. Her home was nearby at the site of the modern Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego on Prospect Street.

The institution’s new name reflects its growth from a traditional historical society into a museum offering exhibitions, educational programs, community events and an extensive collection of historic materials.

Courtesy of Museum of History and Culture La Jolla

A new chapter was marked on Saturday, Aug. 15, when La Jolla Historical Society unveiled its new name and expanded identity with a community celebration.

The museum’s executive director, Lauren Lockhart, noted the name change has actually been in the works for some time. “It’s actually been a conversation that predates me as a member of the organization for five years,” said Lockhart. “It’s something the organization has contemplated for at least 10 years.”

Lockhart said the society outgrew its old name.

“Since 2008, when this campus was gifted to the historical society, and we had a permanent home, we really started to build out our public programs and exhibitions,” she said.

Courtesy of Museum of History and Culture La Jolla

Given the rapid growth, Lockhart said there were ongoing conversations about their expanded mission. “[That means], doing so much more than you’d expect from a traditional historical society, especially as the professionalism and the quality of our exhibitions developed.”

Added Lockhart, “Our peers in the arts and culture field recognized us as a museum. We have a collection of tens of thousands of photographs, postcards and architectural drawings, and we’re the stewards of those materials. So, we’ve really thought of ourselves for a long time as a museum.”

Lauren Lockhart, executive director of La Jolla Historical Society, standing next to a sign in
front of Wisteria Cottage announcing the institution’s name change to the Museum of
History and Culture La Jolla. (Photo by Dave Schwab/Times of San Diego)

Added Lockhart: “There was some confusion about the existing name — people didn’t know what to expect.”