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Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 5pm

San Diego History Center

Name: San Diego History Center
Address: 1649 El Prado, Ste 3, San Diego, CA, 92101, US
Telephone: +16192326203
Price range: $
Rating: 4.7

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San Diego History Center

San Diego History Center (SDHC) is dedicated to helping people of all ages learn about, and enjoy, t
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San Diego History Center (SDHC) is dedicated to helping people of all ages learn about, and enjoy, the history of San Diego, and to appreciate how our past, present, and future are interrelated. San Diego History Center encourages fans to leave comments, videos, photos, and links on this page. However, admins reserve the right to remove content that is construed to be inappropriate and/or

offensive. This includes, but is not limited to, content that is considered to be defamation, harassment, spam, or unauthorized proprietary solicitations. This page is not a venue to promote other pages or causes. Posts that contain incorrect or misleading project information will be deleted. Users who repeatedly violate this policy may be banned from the page.

06/01/2026

Create a collage, share your hopes for the future for the country on our Wish Wall, and explore our newest exhibition, "America at 250: San Diego 1776–2026." All ages are welcome, and all art supplies are provided—just bring your imagination.

Plus, enjoy free pizza from Pizza to the Polls while supplies last! 🍕

📅 June 20
⏰ Drop in anytime from 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
📍 San Diego History Center

This special event is part of Civic Season, a nationwide movement connecting history to civic engagement between Juneteenth and the Fourth of July.

Admission is free, but registration is required due to limited capacity. Reserve your spot today: https://bit.ly/SDHC_SliceOfHistory

05/29/2026

Exhibition Call for Entry: Changing Terrain
Submit by June 10, 2026

Calling all Southern California and Baja-based artists! Submit your entries for Changing Terrain: Regional Artists Interpret Our Landscape, a joint contemporary landscape exhibition exploring new interpretations of Southern California and Baja landscapes.

The exhibition will present a region in flux, reflecting its changing environment, communities, history, and evolving sense of place. This exhibition will take place concurrently at San Diego History Center (SDHC) and Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA).

Submit your work now at bit.ly/OMAterrain

05/28/2026

On May 30th, we’re teaming up with the Grant Imahara STEAM Foundation for an afternoon of robotics, creativity, and hands-on STEAM. Families are invited to explore the San Diego Women in STEM exhibit, then jump into free RoboBattles workshops where kids design, build, and battle their own LEGO® robots.

Equipment provided! Xbox controllers for steering. No two bots are ever the same. It’s creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving, all wrapped into one action-packed afternoon.

📍 San Diego History Center
🗓️ May 30th | 12:00–4:00 PM
🎉 Free for all ages

See you there!

05/26/2026

As we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, we honor the individuals, families, and institutions that have helped shape San Diego’s cultural and civic history—including Congregation Beth Israel, the city’s oldest Jewish congregation, founded in 1861.

Temple Beth Israel, originally dedicated in 1889, remains one of the oldest synagogue structures in the American West and stands today in Heritage Park as a lasting symbol of San Diego’s diverse heritage and community history.

Explore more through the Journal of San Diego History article regarding the Temple: https://bit.ly/SDHC_TempleBethIsrael

Find additional historic photographs documenting San Diego’s Jewish history through our Digital Collections website: https://collections.sandiegohistory.org/

05/19/2026

This AAPI Heritage Month, the San Diego History Center highlights stories from San Diego’s Asian American and Pacific Islander communities preserved through "Welcome To The Mix," an ongoing oral history collection documenting the voices and experiences that shape our region.

Several oral histories in the collection share personal reflections, family histories, cultural traditions, and community experiences from local AAPI residents, including Aurora Cudal, Walter Redondo, Rita Andrews, Ofelia Dirige, and JoAnn Fields, whose stories help illuminate San Diego’s diverse cultural history. By preserving these firsthand accounts, "Welcome To The Mix," helps ensure the voices and experiences of our communities continue to be remembered and shared with future generations.

Listen Here: https://bit.ly/SDHC_AAPI

05/15/2026

Ready to explore San Diego's best cultural spots for FREE? 🏛️

✨Now through May 18, your San Diego History Center membership grants you complimentary admission to dozens of museums across the county for The Big Exchange.

Discover new exhibitions, revisit your favorite spots, and connect with the stories that shape our region.

🗺️Not a member yet? Join today to claim your passport to the city: https://bit.ly/SDHC_Membership_TBE

Learn More about The Big Exchange, presented by the San Diego Museum Council: https://sandiegomuseumcouncil.org/specials/the-big-exchange/

🎟️

05/14/2026

☎️ San Diego was connecting communities long before smartphones and Wi-Fi.

In May 1882, the San Diego Telephone Company began operations with just 13 subscribers and a belief that telephone technology might only be “experimental.” Within a few years, lines stretched from Downtown San Diego to communities across the region—including Julian, Oceanside, Coronado, La Jolla, Chula Vista, and beyond.

By 1897, San Diego was connected by long-distance telephone service to more than 700 cities and towns across California, transforming how people communicated, conducted business, and experienced daily life.

From hand-connected switchboards to a growing regional network, these early telephone lines helped shape the modern San Diego we know today.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/SDHC_TelephoneHistory

05/12/2026

Unleash your inner engineer at a high-energy day of building and discovery! 🤖✨

Join us on May 30 from 1:00–4:00 PM at the San Diego History Center for a family-friendly celebration of innovation. Start by exploring the "San Diego Women in STEM: Creativity and Curiosity" exhibit, then dive into the action with free RoboBattles workshops hosted by the Grant Imahara STEAM Foundation.

In this hands-on environment, young builders will design and customize their own LEGO® robots before putting them to the test in friendly arena battles. It’s an immersive experience designed to show kids that curiosity and collaboration are the heart of science and technology.

Date & Time: May 30 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Venue: San Diego History Center, In the heart of Balboa Park
Cost: FREE (donations are appreciated)

LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize, or endorse this event. 📸 Image courtesy of the Grant Imahara STEAM Foundation.

05/11/2026

A beloved San Diego institution is reopening its doors. 🌮❤️

For generations, Las Cuatro Milpas has been more than a restaurant—it has been a gathering place woven into the story of San Diego. From handmade tortillas to cherished family traditions, its legacy has connected neighbors, families, and visitors through food and community.

As this iconic favorite welcomes guests once again at 1857 National Avenue, Suite 1131 beginning May 12, we celebrate the people, flavors, and memories that continue to shape San Diego’s cultural history. Welcome back, Las Cuatro Milpas.

What are you most looking forward to tasting or experiencing again at Las Cuatro Milpas? 👇

Photos and stories can be shared through this form: https://bit.ly/MyLasCuatroMilpasMemories

Your memories are part of San Diego’s history. Share your stories today and help preserve them through the San Diego History Center.

05/07/2026

Take a journey through time with our extensive collection of historic images from our Research Archives! 📷🕰️

Whether you're looking for high-quality prints or digital downloads, see what history awaits you!
Visit our Photo Collection by clicking the link in bio ☝🏻

Address

1649 El Prado, Ste 3
San Diego, CA
92101

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+16192326203

Website

http://www.sandiegohistory.org/

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