The Sikes Adobe and the San Dieguito River Park: Our Natural and Human History Saved

Leana Bulay, Senior Interpretive Ranger, San Dieguito River Park,
Blanca Drapeau, Interpretive Ranger, Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead

The San Dieguito River Park, created in 1989, has preserved crucial open space, wetlands and wildlife along the watershed of the San Dieguito River from Volcan Mountain in Julian down to Del Mar on the Pacific Ocean. In addition to natural wonders, the park also preserves historic sites like the Sikes Adobe, a farm established by the pioneering Sikes family in 1868. Leana and Blanca will describe some of the natural and historic wonders the park has to offer.

For more information call 858-775-5788

The Latest On Our Past: New Discoveries from the Harris Site

Richard Carrico
Instructor of American Indian Studies, San Diego State University

We welcome Richard Carrico, archaeologist, historian, and Instructor of American Indian Studies at San Diego State University, to discuss findings from his recent study of the C.W. Harris site. The site, along the San Dieguito River, now includes the Crosby Estates Golf Course and other residential development. But it is also “one of southern California’s most important cultural resources,” says Carrico, and has been the focus of numerous studies since the 1920s. Carrico’s latest findings have confirmed “evidence of environmental shifts over several millennia…use of large earth ovens, near continuous site occupation for more than 11,000 years, and much much more.

To view Mr.Carricos talk on Native American Placenames back 2015. CLICK HERE

For more information call 858-775-5788

Hidden Treasures in the San Diego City Archives.

Samantha Ely
Archives Program Manager
Anne Miggins
Deputy City Clerk

Among the primary functions of the Archives Center is the identification, preservation and storage of records with permanent reference value that capture the City’s history. These records do not simply provide a chronology of events, but rather, they provide a window into the City’s past: the culture, values, challenges and issues that helped to shape the City of San Diego we know today.”

For more information call 858-775-5788

From Measures to Missiles

Vincent Rossi
Historian and Author

Mr Rossi will discuss his latest book that outlines a complicated history reflecting the intersection of science, national security and politics. And by politics that means not only governmental politics but also inter-service, inter-departmental and interpersonal politics as well, told by the people who were on the ground, making it happen. From 1951 to 1971, a United States Government laboratory was in operation at Corona, California, During that period some of the most brilliant scientists and engineers in the nation engaged in groundbreaking work in service to the national defense. That work included the creation of the first guided missiles in the U. S. arsenal.

This talk is the story of that lab.

For more information call 858-775-5788

Brewers, Bootleggers and Bosses: Women in San Diego Brewing History

Judith Downie
Retired Special Collections and History Librarian at Cal State San Marcos

Among the special collections Downie oversaw before her recent retirement was a new research collection, Brewchive ®, founded in 2017 and dedicated to preserving the history of craft brewing in San Diego. San Diego County has been proclaimed the craft brewing capital of the United States, as a result of a wave of breweries established in the 1980s. But the industry has a history going back as far as the 1860s, a history in which women played an essential role.

For more information call 858-775-5788

The Floating City at Sea

Jean Harris
A veteran navy officer and longtime docent at the U.S.S. Midway Museum, describes how an aircraft carrier has to function like a city of 4,500 people while on sea duty.

For more information call 858-775-5788

Rancho Guajome and its Cast of Characters

Ron Quirk

For more information call 858-775-5788

San Diego’s Forgotten Empire: The Legacy of John Diedrich Spreckels

Sandra Bonura, Author

Dr. Bonura is a native San Diegan. She last spoke at our Speakers series in June of 2017. She is an author that prides herself on telling stories about her native San Diego’s history. In February she will talk about her book about one of San Diego’s founders John D Speckels who was a major developer of downtown.

For more information call 858-775-5788

Native Sons of the Golden West

Luke Bramon, Leader of the local chapter of the Native Sons of the Golden West.

His talk focused on how the chapter works to preserve county historic sites.

For more information call 858-775-5788

The Story of Wilderness Gardens County Park

Jake Enriquez, Regional Manager of the San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation

Wilderness Gardens is the oldest Parks and Recreation open space preserve in our county. In addition to being a hiking and birdwatchers paradise, it is home to the ruins of what was the first and for many years the only grist mill in the county. Jake will offer a closer look at this history and how this scenic and historic site came to be part of the county parks system

For more information call 858-775-5788

Rediscovering the Historic Mira Mar Restaurant and Hotel

Annemarie Cox, Archeologist

Veteran archaeologist and anthropologist Annemarie Cox told us how archaeologists do their work in the field and in the laboratory. Her presentation included photos and 3D images of artifacts recovered during the Mira Mar Hotel project.

The Mira Mar Restaurant in Oceanside was originally built in 1887 as the Couts family home. First converted to a restaurant in the 1930s, it expanded over the decades to include a hotel, coffee shop and nautical-themed bar. It was a popular stop with locals and travelers along the coast road between San Diego and Los Angeles.

For more information call 858-775-5788

The History of Indian Gaming

Ethan Banagas, Instructor Cuyamaca College

Ethan Banegas is a history instructor at Cuyamaca College and coordinator of their  Kumeyaay Studies Program.

“San Diego County has the largest concentration of Indian casinos in the United States,” Banegas says. “Gaming has allowed Indian tribes to pursue greater self-determination, meaning that Indian tribal governments can conduct their own affairs.”

Banegas will describe the political climate that allowed the courts to favor Indian gaming. He will also describe the shared history of the Barona, Sycuan and Viejas casinos.

For more information call 858-775-5788

The La Jolla Atlas and Map Musuem

Richard Cloward, Museum Director

Mr Cloward discussed the Museum’s goal which is to create an awareness and appreciation for the geography, history, politics, and artistic beauty of antique collectible maps and atlases. You will find a new appreciation for these splendid works of intellect and creativity which inform us so richly about the history of our world and those who explored and mapped it.

For more information call 858-775-5788

10,000 Years: Prehistory of the San Diego Region

Cindy Stankowski

Cindy Stankowski is the Executive Director of the San Diego Archaeological Center, a museum and curation facility for artifacts recovered from sites throughout San Diego County.

 Many people think that the history of San Diego County began in 1769 when the missionaries arrived,” Stankowski says.

 “She stated, people have lived in the region for over 10,000 years and left behind artifacts that tell the  story of their lives. I especially appreciate archaeology for informing us about the past and  the people who lived before we were here.  Artifacts tell the story of people who are underrepresented in oral and written history.”

For more information call 858-775-5788

The Mexican War – How it Shaped Two Nations

Blaine Davies

California and the southwest United States became U.S. territory following the Mexican War. Our speaker Blaine Davies explores the causes, the battles, and the aftermath of the Mexican War. Blaine Davies holds a master’s degree in history from Boise State University.

For more information call 858-775-5788

The Kings Highway

Max Kurillo

California’s El Camino Real and Its Historic Bells traces the history, development and preservation of this historic West Coast transportation corridor. Max Kurillo is a San Diego based historian with a passion for the Spanish missions of California. He has written several books on the topic.

For more information call 858-775-5788

Rancho Bernardo Study of Healthy Aging

Linda McAvoy and Gail McLaughlin

Electronic archiving of the Rancho Bernardo Study of healthy aging, a cohort study that has followed individuals over more than 40 years, from middle-age to late old age, obtaining a rich set of health, behavioral and cognitive data, will ensure that this unique scientific resource remains available for current and Electronic archiving of the Rancho Bernardo Study of healthy aging, a cohort study that has followed individuals over more than 40 years, from middle-age to late old age, obtaining a rich set of health, behavioral and cognitive data, will ensure that this unique scientific resource remains available for current and future audiences.

For more information call 858-775-5788

Past Programs from Previous Years

Click on a Month Below to View Video on YouTube

2017

October – The Poway Midland Railroad
Chuck Cross

September – The History of Water Development in San Diego
Garry Butterfield

August – Local History Stories for Children
Marilyn McPhie

July – Palomar: Bridge to the Stars
Mark Carlson

May – SD County Agricultural History
Eric Larsen

February – Times were tough but pioneers were tougher.
Marilyn McPhie

January – Flights to Oblivion, Flights to Fame, The New York to Paris Race
Mark Carlson

2015

October – Hiking around San Diego
Tom Leech

September – Contributions Made by the Women of Vista
Jack Larimer
Director of the Vista Historical Society Museum.

July – Evaluation, valuation and care of precious works of art and artifacts.
Jennifer Garey
Museum Director

June – Background of the Escondido History Center
Wendy Barker
Executive Director, Escondido History Center

May – Significance of Native American placenames in our region.
Richard Carrico

April – Origins of the San Diego County fair, which has been in existence since 1880.
Linda Zweig

March – Story of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
Faye Jonason
Museum Division Officer MCB Camp Pendleton.

January – The story of the Californios
Bonnie Martland