Ocean Beach Historical Society on Thurs. Jan. 18, 2024 kicked off the 30^th year of our free monthly lecture series.  O.B. photographer Randy Dible presented his own photos mixed with great historic photos of his grandfather, San Diego photographer Robert Thompson, from his travels around the world in the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s. Randy’s, and his programs had a lot of fun mixed with jaw-dropping imagery. 

The largest OB Christmas Parade was on Sat. Dec. 2, 2023. Disco was the theme, but there was plenty of cars and golf carts, unicycles, sea-life decorations, decked-out parade members and much more. We look forward to next years parade!

See OBHS’s “Spirit of OB’s Christmas Past”. This holiday treat brings you the experience and the spirit of OB’s Christmas Past. Decades of O.B. historic photos of Christmas Trees, Sandcastles, T-Shirts, the parades, and more. Relive the fun-filled cherished O.B. holiday events.

Thursday November 16th, Ocean Beach Historical Society welcomed old friend Richard Carrico.  Richard told riveting stories from his new book Monsters on the Loose at Water’s Edge Church. In early 1931 the city of San Diego was terrorized by the murders of three young women. None of the crimes were witnessed, the killings seemed unrelated, and forensic criminology was still in its infancy. Has Richard solved one of these cold cases?  The monthly OBHS lecture series is always FREE and is still held in the sanctuary of Water’s Edge Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd in Ocean Beach.

Oct.19, 2023, The Ocean Beach Historical Society presented: The Isthmus (1915-1916). Balboa Park’s answer to OB’s Wonderland, a very fun and interesting program was held at Water’s Edge Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. OB by Jonnie Wilson as she gave a pictorial paean to the fabulous fun zone of the Panama California Exposition, known as the Isthmus. There had been big fairs with exciting midways before, but nobody had ever seen anything to rival the Isthmus. Jonnie’s program featured dozens of wonderful images from her extensive picture postcard collection. The OBHS lecture series is always FREE.

On SEPT. 21, 2023 at 6 PM, The Ocean Beach Historical Society presented at the foot of Niagara Ave. (Entrance to the O.B. PIER for “THE PIERS OF OCEAN BEACH”. We learned the history of the O.B. Pier, ideas, options, and the future pier while watching the Sunset. Speakers included Ralph Teyssier, Matthew Martinez and Eric DuVall. After the program, some attendees went to the TEMPLETE for open mic night.

The Ocean Beach Historical Society on August 17, 2023, presented the NTC Centennial program, by Eric DuVall. The program was full of information and humor as we learned the history and celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Naval Training Center. OBHS programs are always Free!

The Ocean Beach Historical Society, July 20, 2023, program San Diego Women in World War II , presenter Linda Canada, at Water’s Edge Faith Community, was insightful and covered many personal experiences during WWII . Once the shock of the bombing of Pearl Harbor subsided, the women of San Diego had to deal with a number of issues at home. For most married women, their husbands immediately wanted to join the war effort, which put instant pressure on them to become the heads of household, parent their children, and maybe be the breadwinner all at the same time!  For single women, there was the challenge of losing their social lives as sweethearts and friends joined the service and were sent far away. For all women, there was the challenge of transitioning from a male-dominated world to one where they had to learn to be responsible for their own actions and plan for their own futures. We heard actual stories and the real experiences of San Diego women as they lived through this tumultuous period of history. 

The Ocean Beach Historical Society program paid homage to this incredible O.B. artist on Thurs., June 15, 2023, A Retrospective: Ocean Beach’s Extraordinary Artist Charles Faust, Presented by Kathy Blavatt & Eider Demello, at Water’s Edge Faith Community, O.B.

Charles Faust was a modern-day Renaissance man. He was among the echelons of Ocean Beach’s most famous artists. He was multifaceted in various mediums in the fine art world, commercial art and illustration, design, and structural design.

Faust worked for the San Diego Zoo, Lindbergh Field, and he had a vast number of freelance accounts. Faust also worked out of a studio on Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach, where he created many of his signature sand castings that were displayed at commercial buildings and homes on the peninsula. We saw a presentation and original samples of his incredible art in multiple mediums. All this for FREE!