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La Jolla's history is short,
yet still engulfed in mystery, drama and
humor.
First Inhabitants Artifacts
found in this geographic area indicate Native
American settlements along the La Jolla
shoreline over 3,000 years ago. Archaeologists
have found stone utensils and Indian metates.
However, the remains are small and scattered,
leaving historians unclear about the fate
of these earliest inhabitants.
 Modern
Settlers The La Jolla lands became
incorporated as part of San Diego in 1850.
However, there were no permanent settlers
in this section of town until 19 years later.
Two brothers, Daniel and Samuel Sizer, each
bought a plot of La Jolla land in 1869.
The City of San Diego sold these 80-acre
plots for the price of $1.25 per acre. Little
did the Sizer brothers know that their plots
of land, located between present-day Fay
Street and La Jolla Boulevard, would be
worth $1.25 million per acre by the late
Twentieth Century.
When Frank Terrill Botsford arrived via
boat in San Diego in 1886, he scribed in
his diary, “Magnificent day at La
Jolla!” Like the Sizer brothers, Frank
Botsford purchased a plot of land, but Mr.
Botsford also went a step further. He was
the first to develop La Jolla property,
earning his title as “the father of
La Jolla.” With the help of George
Heald, who purchased one-quarter interest
of this property, Frank Botsford surveyed
and subdivided the land. Although Botsford
could not find drinkable water in the area,
he still attempted to auction pieces of
the land, with Bob Pennell serving as the
auctioneer. The auction was successful and
Pennell's persuasive techniques were so
effective, he even convinced himself to
purchase a plot of land.
What's in a Name? La Jolla's
name is a somewhat controversial subject
among town historians. No one has an absolute
account regarding the establishment of this
name. What has been confirmed is the meaning
of La Jolla, which stands for “the
jewel” in Spanish. It is also confirmed
that this name has appeared in all land
grant and mission records since 1928. Yet,
the name, “La Jolla,” also appears
in scattered documents prior to this date,
including one 1870 map designating plots
of land in “La Joya.”
 While
mystery surrounds the exact date, place
and circumstances of the origination of
La Jolla's name, there is no doubt about
the validity of the name. Between the sparkling
Pacific waters, mysterious caves and glorious
beaches, this stretch of land is clearly
“the jewel” of Southern California.
The Town Grows In the
1890s, the railroad extended to La Jolla,
enabling additional growth for this booming
suburb. Around this time, real estate developers
began to take an interest in the coastal
property of La Jolla, constructing resorts
to attract visitors from San Diego proper.
La Jolla Park Hotel opened its doors in
1893, boasting three stories and 80 rooms.
In addition, cottage-style homes were built
along Prospect Street and Girard Avenue.
The Union Congregational Church was established,
as well as the
La Jolla Woman's Club, which began as
a women's reading circle.
During this time frame, La Jolla's devotion
to the arts was born. One of La Jolla's
citizens, Miss Anna Held, established her
famous “Green Dragon Colony”
in 1894, where she allowed artists and novelists
to work without expense.
Newspaper heiress Ellen Browning Scripps
settled in La Jolla in 1896. Her countless
gifts to the La Jolla community are clearly
noted in the plethora of institutions bearing
her name, such as Scripps Institute of Oceanography
and Ellen
Browning Scripps Park.
However, growth was not entirely smooth
sailing for the seaside town of La Jolla.
The La Jolla Park Hotel had difficulty maintaining
business and eventually burned to the ground
in June 1896. Regardless, La Jolla continued
to flourish into the Twentieth Century.
Twentieth Century Development The Twentieth
Century marks the establishment of countless
institutions as the small town of La Jolla
grew into a world-famous city. The first
building of Scripps Institute of Oceanography
was erected in 1909. This world-class research
institute, which includes Birch
Aquarium, has since become part of the
University
of California at San Diego (UCSD), founded
in the La Jolla community in 1959. In addition,
La Jolla's first newspaper, known as The
La Jolla Breakers, began in 1906.
In 1913, the The
Grande Colonial Hotel opened for business
with 28 apartments and 25 single rooms.
Charging $1 per night, the hotel experienced
such incredible success that a second building
opened shortly after. The hotel has since
been renovated many times and stands today,
open for business, in the heart of La Jolla
Village.
By the 1930s, La Jolla's luxurious resorts
and incredible beach views attracted scores
of Hollywood stars. Initially, celebrities
simply came to La Jolla for relaxation and
retreat. Yet, by the 1940s and 1950s, a
few Hollywood stars began creating and producing
plays at The Summer Playhouse, now known
as The La Jolla Playhouse.
The Present Day Remnants
of La Jolla's early settlers are still evident
throughout the town, from the names of key
institutions to the eclectic form of architecture,
primarily Mediterranean-style, which has
evolved over the decades. With a current
population of about 43,000 people, La Jolla
manages to host world-renown research institutions,
breathtaking beaches, distinguished art
galleries and top-notch restaurants—all
in a seven-mile stretch along the California
shoreline. Thus, while the mystery of this
town's name may never be solved, La Jolla's
tourists and residents clearly see why it
is called “the jewel.”
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