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Two Spring Lectures Highlight San Diego History in Penning the Past
March/April 2026
San Diego’s neighborhoods have stories to tell and this spring, SOHO invites you back into the conversation when our Penning the Past Zoom lecture series returns for 2026 with two engaging programs exploring the colorful history of San Diego’s neighborhoods. Now in its third year, the series offers members and others a chance to hear from historians and authors who have spent years uncovering the stories behind the city’s architectural and cultural heritage.
Lectures take place on the second Saturday of the month, running through November, from 11am to noon on Zoom. The series is free for SOHO members; non-members may attend for $10 per lecture. Advance registration is required; see the link below.
On March 14, historian and storyteller Eric DuVall takes us back to the turn of the last century to explore Lomaland, home of the internationally renowned Theosophical Society, which once flourished on Point Loma. Often misunderstood, Lomaland comes into focus through DuVall’s vivid storytelling as he explores its ideals, architecture, and fascinating personalities, while placing the community within the broader context of early San Diego development and Southern California history.
DuVall is a San Diego native and longtime journalist, historian, and preservation advocate. He is president of the Ocean Beach Historical Society and a board member and past president of the La Playa Trail Association. Many readers know him from his long-running “A Page from History” column in the San Diego Union-Tribune. He is also the author of Ocean Beach and co-author of Point Loma and a SOHO People In Preservation Award winner.
 A bird’s-eye view of the Lomaland campus in the 1920s, shows the diamond-shaped Homestead Building and the round Temple of Peace, famed for its oversized colored-glass domes. Once home to a thriving Theosophical Society on Point Loma, Lomaland is the subject of historian Eric DuVall’s March 14 Penning the Past Zoom lecture exploring the ideals, architecture, and personalities of this ambitious and artistic community. Courtesy Theosophical Society, Pasadena |
On April 11, historian Sandee Wilhoit guides us through the layered and often dramatic history of the Gaslamp Quarter. From William Heath Davis’s hopeful “New Town” to the district’s notorious days as the Stingaree, Wilhoit brings the neighborhood’s transformation vividly to life through stories of Victorian architecture, civic reform, colorful characters, and enduring legends.
Wilhoit serves as historian and lead tour guide for the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation, performs with the Gaslamp Players historical reenactment troupe, and writes the monthly “Gaslamp Landmarks” column for the Downtown News.
 The iconic Gaslamp Quarter arch marks the entrance to one of San Diego’s most storied historic neighborhoods. From its early days as William Heath Davis’s “New Town” to its notorious era as the Stingaree, the district’s dramatic evolution is historian Sandee Wilhoit’s tale to tell at the April 11 Penning the Past Zoom lecture. She'll portray the people, places, and legends that shaped the Gaslamp. Photo by Edelweiss - Melanie Stocker. Courtesy SanDiego.org |
Together, these two lectures offer fresh perspectives on familiar places and deepen appreciation for the stories that make San Diego unique. We hope you'll join us.
View the full 2026 roster of speakers and register for upcoming lectures.
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Read the rest of the ongoing The Marstons: A California Story History Series.
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