La Jolla’s coastal legacy: nature, culture, & conservation (Part I)
Curated by Seonaid McArthur & Molly McClain with contemporary photography by Nick Agelidis
Point La Jolla and Boomer Beach (2025) by Seonaid McArthur La Jolla Historical Society
Part I. A coastline inspires a town (current story)
Part II
The sea: leisure and discovery
Part III
Century of tourism & preservation
La Jolla Caves from Goldfish Point (2014) by Nick Agelidis La Jolla Historical Society
"The Place of Many Caves"
For centuries, the Kumeyaay people knew this area as "the place of many caves." These caves, beaches, and canyons inspired the vision for La Jolla, a town shaped by its unique shoreline.
Goldfish Point (1885/1900) by unk Original Source: San Diego History Center
Early settlers were captivated by the landscape, discovering the same awe-inspiring places the Kumeyaay had long cherished.
Picnic in La Jolla Park (1918) by unk La Jolla Historical Society
La Jolla became home to a diverse population including African Americans, Latinos, Portuguese fishermen, Italian and German immigrants, and white settlers. This rich blend of cultures contributed to the unique character of La Jolla as it grew into a thriving seaside community.
This exhibition shows how La Jolla’s coastline shaped the town’s growth and inspired a legacy of preservation and discovery. In 2024, the La Jolla Park Coastal Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, honoring its role in the community’s history. Explore the stories and enduring significance of this coastal treasure.
La Jolla Park Subdivision Map (1887) by M.C.Wheeler La Jolla Historical Society
La Jolla Park subdivision, 1887
Developers of the 1887 La Jolla Park subdivision set aside the coastline for public use. They named many geographic features that remain today and identified the namesake “La Jolla Park” as the town’s focal point.
Mammoth Caves-Goldfish Point
Toward the north are the Mammoth Caves , carved into Cretaceous sandstone bluffs ranging from 16 to 116 feet high. These bluffs extend westward to Goldfish Poin t, a striking rock formation that juts 90 feet into the sea.
La Jolla Park-Alligator Head
La Jolla Park —today’s Scripps Memorial Park—was the community’s centerpiece and social hub. Along the shoreline were three spectacular beaches and distinctive rock formations. One, Alligator Head , named for its alligator-like profile, collapsed during a winter storm in 1978.
Seal Rock
Seal Rock, located off Shell Beach, was once a favorite spot for seals during their winter pupping season. Over time, this tradition shifted to the nearby Children’s Pool, where seals now gather annually.
Whale View Point
The southern end of the historic district features flat rocks and shoreline, accessible via a historic staircase. This area is popular for tide pooling and offers a great vantage point for spotting migrating whales.
La Jolla Park's “grand auction,” 1887
During the real estate "boom" of the 1880s, La Jolla was subdivided by the Pacific Coast Land Bureau, an agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Lots were sold at auction for $5-10 each.
San Diego Trolley advertising low tides in La Jolla (1890/1900) by unk. Original Source: San Diego History Center
Selling real estate
In 1887, the Pacific Coast Land Bureau promoted their daily stagecoach service, departing from their San Diego offices at 8:30 a.m. and returning at 5:00 p.m.
Pavilion and Tent City, La Jolla Park (1894/1900) by unk. La Jolla Historical Society
The lure of the sea
The railroad promoted the La Jolla Park subdivision and its coastal scenery "as unexcelled on the Atlantic or Pacific Coasts." It built an entertainment pavilion in the park and established a Tent City for seaside campers. The curving dirt road later became Coast Boulevard.
Camping at La Jolla Cove (1893-07-28) by unk. La Jolla Historical Society
Tent City
During the summers, La Jolla Park transformed into a breezy seaside Tent City, with the first general store (right) and the first bathhouse (left) conveniently located above The Cove.
La Jolla's celebrated caves, sea stacks, arches, and tidepools were prominently featured in real estate brochures of the era, enticing potential buyers with the promise of coastal living.
"Low Tide at La Jolla" (1900) by Jacob F. Coonley Original Source: San Diego History Center
Tidepooling in the 1880s
In the 1880s, tourists visiting La Jolla through promotions by the Horton House Hotel enjoyed collecting shells and sea mosses. This Victorian-era pastime reflected a broader interest in natural history.
Botanist Mary Snyder, a leading authority on algae, moved to La Jolla in 1903. Her algae collection earned a gold medal at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition and now resides at the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Tidepooling at Whale View Point (1905) by Francis Elliott Patterson Original Source: San Diego History Center
Whale View Point and Ellen Browning Scripps
Ellen Browning Scripps moved to La Jolla in 1897, building her first home overlooking the coast -- seen here upper right. She and her sister Virginia enjoyed tidepooling, a popular local activity that continues to this day.
Virginia became an avid collector of shells, sea creatures, and sea algae, even decorating rooms inside their home, South Molton Villa.Today, Scripps’s collections are part of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography archives.
Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Park and La Jolla (2022) by Nick Agelidis La Jolla Historical Society
Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Park
Ellen Browning Scripps, a key figure in La Jolla's development, funded projects like the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Children's Pool. In 1927, La Jolla Park was renamed in her honor.
Take a look at this panoramic view of Scripps Park, as it appears today.
Commemorations
Scripps Park features historical markers, including tributes to President Lincoln, horticulturist Kate Sessions and recently the Bottom Scratchers. Each marker, like the plaque for Sessions beneath a Pink Melaleuca tree, connects the park to significant figures and events.
A sculpture above Boomer Beach, left, commemorates life guard David C. Freeman. A bronze plaque, right, was mounted to commemorate the pioneer diving club named the Bottom Scratchers.
Scripps Park's heritage plantings, including Melaleuca and Dragon Trees, preserve the park's character. A row of Mexican Fan Palms, planted in 1910, lines Coast Boulevard. Kate Sessions recommended sedum and other plants for the park.
From 1903-1908, belvederes were constructed overlooking the shore. These structures, including two above Boomer Beach, offered visitors protection from the elements at this popular surfing and body surfing spot.
Take a look! The La Jolla Adult Recreation Center as it appears today.
La Jolla Park and Village (1924) by Union Title Insurance Company Original Source: San Diego History Center
By 1927, La Jolla Village was growing rapidly. The first hotels and a railroad depot appeared. A bathhouse was built above The Cove, and palm trees were planted along the park.
A special thank you to the individuals and organizations whose dedication to preserving La Jolla’s coastline for over 100 years made it possible to nominate this historical landscape to the National Register of Historic Places. Your ongoing efforts in conservation, education, and advocacy are a source of inspiration to us all.
Point La Jolla and Boomer Beach (2025) by Seonaid McArthur La Jolla Historical Society
Curators
Seonaid McArthur and Molly McClain, for their expert guidance and vision in bringing this exhibition to life, and for their deep knowledge of La Jolla's history and cultural significance.
Designed by:
• Elliot Frueh
• Angela Noble
• Cris Noble
©
Copyright 2025, La Jolla Historical Society
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