Penning the Past 2026
Insights into San Diego's Historic Neighborhoods and Architecture

Step into the stories of San Diego’s built environment with Penning the Past, SOHO’s engaging Zoom lecture series that explores the city’s historic neighborhoods, architecture, and the people who shaped them. Now in its third year, the series continues to spotlight authors, historians, and preservationists whose research deepens our understanding of San Diego’s cultural and architectural legacy. SOHO members attend free, while non-members are welcome for $10 per lecture. Your participation supports SOHO’s mission to preserve the historic places and stories that make San Diego unique.

November 14 · 11am-12 noon

U.S. Highway 80
Chris Wray

Long before Interstate 8, U.S. Highway 80 was the lifeline that connected San Diego to the mountains, desert, and the wider Southwest. In this richly illustrated lecture, historian and author Chris Wray traces the story of this legendary transcontinental highway from downtown San Diego to the Imperial Valley and beyond, revealing how shifting routes, roadside communities, and changing transportation needs shaped the region.

Drawing on historic photographs, maps, and on-the-ground research, Wray explores Highway 80’s multiple alignments through the city and backcountry, from early surface streets and mountain grades to its eventual replacement by the modern freeway system. Along the way, he highlights forgotten towns, scenic passes, and roadside landmarks that once defined travel across San Diego County’s most rugged landscapes.

Blending transportation history with place-based storytelling, U.S. Highway 80 offers a compelling look at how one highway helped create—and ultimately transform—San Diego’s relationship with its mountains and desert.

Author bio Chris Wray is a San Diego historian and author specializing in the history of the county’s backcountry, mountains, and desert regions. He is the author of U.S. Highway 80, Highways to History, and The Historic Backcountry, and has produced a series of videos documenting historic places throughout San Diego County.

PURCHASE ADVANCE TICKETS
Free for SOHO members · $10 for non-members

TOURS & EVENTS

Marston House Museum
Warner-Carrillo Ranch House Museum
Group Tours
Third Sunday Walking Tours
Self-Guided Tours
Penning the Past Zoom Lecture Series
Online Exhibits
Online Activities
People In Preservation Awards

Mailing - PO Box 80788 · San Diego CA 92138 | Offices - 3525 Seventh Avenue · San Diego CA 92103
Offices, Museums & Shops (619) 297-9327
Home | Contact