Past Exhibitions

Showcase 2006 represents a return to San Diego's rancho days, as the property is part of the old San Dieguito ranch. The 1915 farmhouse and various ranch buildings are on almost six acres of rolling grounds, shaded by large pepper trees. The house itself is a combination of new and old, as the owners have lovingly restored it to preserve the best of its historic architecture, and yet have installed some of the latest technology in hidden nooks. Just minutes from the ocean, a visit to Showcase 2006 will give you a breath of fresh air while you view creative design, both inside and outside the house.

This photographic exhibition had been described as a "now and then" style view of San Diego. It might have been more accurately described as "from then until now" as it illustrated the changes to our built and natural environments over a long period of time. Every day we can look around us and see change, sometimes large and dramatic, sometimes gradual and subtle.

Wedding Belles showcased marvelous examples of the evolution of style and ever-changing ideas of proper wedding attire, with costumes from an 1848 Viennese wedding dress to a 1950s tulle and lace extravaganza. Vintage wedding photographs, from the Historical Society’s photograph collection helped illustrate what brides have been wearing in San Diego for 150 years. The Wedding Belles exhibition featured wedding attire selected from the Historical Society’s collection of more than 7,000 costumes.

How the coast road—commonly known as Pacific Coast Highway or Highway 101—opened scenic and recreational opportunities and created a spine of development and urbanization is revealed in the Coast Road: 1900-1950 exhibit.