La Jolla
OH! San Diego 2025
Sunday, March 9th
About La Jolla
Founded in 1887 and home to Ellen Browning Scripps, who built her house on the ocean side of Prospect Street, “The Jewel” has become an educational and cultural epicenter anchored by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the La Valencia Hotel, La Jolla Playhouse, University of California San Diego, the Salk Institute, and Birch Aquarium. Visitors come from around the world to visit sea lions at Children’s Pool, stroll Prospect Street’s shops and restaurants, hike Torrey Pines State Beach, explore tidepools and sea caves, and swim, surf and sunbathe at iconic beaches.
La Jolla Historical Society
HISTORIC BUILDING
780 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
Self-Guided Tour: SUN 10am-4pm
Guided Tour: Upon Request
BEEP Sketch: SUN 12pm (no registration required)
HUB Location
The La Jolla Historical Society (LJHS) operates three historic buildings within the Scripps/Gill cultural zone, including the 1904 Wisteria Cottage, restored and renovated in 2008 to provide gallery space for exhibitions and educational programs. The Society also manages a 1909 cottage for offices and research, and a 1916 carriage house for archival storage. The collection includes historic photographs, documents, and public records. Through exhibitions, research, and interdisciplinary programs, the LJHS celebrates the region’s history and culture, blending contemporary and historic perspectives to foster understanding and connection.
Architect/Designer: Irving Gill, others unknown
Grande Colonial Hotel / NINE-TEN Restaurant
HISTORIC BUILDING
910 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
Self-Guided Tour: SUN 1pm-4pm
The Colonial Apartments and Hotel, as it was known when it opened in 1913, is La Jolla’s oldest original hotel. The original building was designed by Richard Requa, Master Architect for the California Exposition. In 1925, architect Frank Stevenson was commissioned to expand the hotel, adding 53 accommodations. Today, the property is known as the Grande Colonial and is comprised of 97 guest rooms and suites in 5 buildings, 2 designated historic landmarks, and continues to preserve the heritage laid down by its founders more than 100 years ago.
Architect/Designer: Richard Requa (1913)
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
MUSEUM
700 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
Self-Guided Tour: SUN 11am-4pm
Guided Tour: SUN 2pm
Guided Tour Registration Required: Here
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in La Jolla began in 1916 as the oceanfront home of philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, designed by Irving Gill. Opening in 1941, the Museum expanded in the mid-20th century with additions by Mosher & Drew, followed by a renovation in 1996 by Venturi Scott Brown & Associates. As the collection grew, the building's gallery space became insufficient. In 2014, Selldorf Architects redesigned the Museum, adding 46,400 square feet to double its gallery space and better connect the Museum to its coastal setting.
Architect/Designer: Ellen Browning Scripps (1916), Mosher & Drew, Venturi Scott Brown & Associates, Selldorf Architects
Sea + Stone La Jolla Village Apartments
RESIDENTIAL
1111 Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037
Self-Guided Tour: SUN 10am-1pm
Sea + Stone La Jolla Village Apartments feature a modern, coastal-inspired design with clean lines, large windows, and high-quality materials like stone and wood. The architecture emphasizes natural light, open spaces, and indoor-outdoor living, with private balconies and a rooftop terrace. The stylish yet functional layout blends urban convenience with La Jolla’s relaxed, seaside charm.
Architect/Designer: Matt Stowe, Bothwell Co., Lori Bothwell
La Jolla Woman's Club
CLUB HOUSE
7791 Draper Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
Self-Guided Tour: SUN 10am-1pm
In 1914, this Irving Gill building became home to the La Jolla Woman's Club, which was founded by Ellen Browning Scripps in 1901. The members became activists for women's and children's rights. Today, the membership still exists and gather monthly with guest speakers and donation drives. The club hosts private events such as weddings, non-profit fundraisers, receptions, lectures, dinners, holiday parties, celebrations of life, retreats, and educational meetings.
Architect/Designer: Irving Gill
The Bishop's School and St. Mary's Chapel
RELIGIOUS CAMPUS
7607 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
Self-Guided Tour: SUN 10am-2pm
Irving J. Gill, the founding architect of The Bishop's School, created groundbreaking modernist designs in 1909, favoring simplicity with geometric forms like straight lines, arches, circles, and squares, and minimal ornamentation. His work reflected the vision of Episcopal Bishop Joseph H. Johnson and philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps. Although Gill designed many buildings on campus, Carleton Monroe Winslow, known for his Spanish Baroque Revival style, designed St. Mary’s Chapel in 1916. Winslow, who had worked on the Panama-California Exposition, maintained Gill’s architectural principles while introducing his own style to the chapel.
Architect/Designer: Irving Gill, Carleton Monroe Winslow
La Jolla/Riford Library
LIBRARY
7555 Draper Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
Self-Guided Tour: SUN 1pm-4pm
The La Jolla Library has a rich history that began in 1894 with the formation of the La Jolla Reading Club. It evolved from a small cottage into a Spanish Colonial Revival-style building in 1921, designed by architect William Templeton Johnson. In 1955, the library became part of the San Diego Public Library system, and in 1988, it moved to its current location, funded by Florence Riford. The library underwent an expansion in 2004, adding the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Library Annex, which featured unique architectural elements like a skylight-covered atrium and a two-story stained-glass window designed by Christopher Lee.
Architect/Designer: Mosher Drew Watson Ferguson (1980s, 2004)
La Jolla Shores Lifeguard Station
LIFEGUARD STATION
8302 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla, CA 92037
Self-Guided Tour: SUN 10am-1pm
Guided Tour: SUN 10am, 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm
Guided Tour Registration Required: Here
This award-winning ~2,000 SF lifeguard station serves as the central hub for public safety operations in the Shores area, offering a 270-degree view from its observation tower. The design incorporates translucent materials on perpendicular planes to minimize building mass and maximize natural light, ensuring the structure enhances rather than obstructs ocean views. The building is intentionally divided into public and private spaces, with both sections thoughtfully oriented toward the ocean to optimize visibility and functionality.
- 2015 APWA - San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter, Project of the Year
- 2014 Orchids and Onions Program, People's Choice Orchid Award
Architect/Designer: Roesling Nakamura Terada Architects, Inc. (RNT) and Hector Perez
