District Delivered Award

Seonaid McArthur, Molly McClain, Diane Kane, Nick Agelidis, and the La Jolla Historical Society
District Delivered Award

Let’s go back about 140 years, when artists, vacationers, and real estate promoters literally caught wind of an enchantingly beautiful seaside area they called La Jolla Park. This isolated coastal stretch was picturesque and serene, with natural wonders like sea caves, dramatic cliffs, and a cove brimming with marine life. In 1887, a map of La Jolla Park showed Coast Boulevard, which to this day is a curving main artery with breathtaking views. Over time, amenities for pedestrians appeared. The ancient Kumeyaay trail became Coast Walk, and people added rustic wooden bridges and stairways to beaches. Modest redwood cottages built for artist colonies and vacation homes sprang up.

Today’s residents wanted to preserve and protect these eight unique coastal acres, which include the iconic La Jolla Cove, the 5.6-acre Ellen Browning Scripps Park overlooking the cove, and the nearby Children’s Pool. Strong public interest and pride led to the La Jolla Historical Society sponsoring and commissioning an in-depth report—spanning the years 1887 to 1940—by an art historian and a history professor assisted by an architectural historian. Their goal was to amass evidence that would support the creation of a National Historic District.

Thirty-five contributing resources in the district range from ten buildings (including two previously listed landmarks), eight sites, and 17 structures. Among them are the endangered Red Roost and Red Rest bungalows from 1894, four stairways connecting the seashore to La Jolla’s commercial area, and five public beaches. More than a century after artists, mariners, scientists, and vacationers began flocking to this appealing area, much of the shoreline remains public, a hallmark of La Jolla’s cultural identity and economic success from its earliest days.

Thanks to the research team’s hard work, knowledge, and advocacy, the La Jolla Park Coastal Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in May 2024. This significant distinction helps preserve, protect, and promote a revered cultural, environmental, and social landscape as well as informing future management of this sensitive coastline.

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Aerial view of the Children’s Pool. Photo by Nick Agelidis

Along the Coast Walk above the cliffs. Photo by Sandé Lollis

PAST PEOPLE IN PRESERVATION AWARD WINNERS