‘Merchants and Memories’ opens

A new exhibition at the Wisteria Cottage is designed to capture the humble beginnings and progression of business in La Jolla.

“Merchants and Memories” opened last week at the La Jolla Historical Society’s headquarters commemorates business community, which had its beginnings in the early 1890s.

“We are trying to start an oral history program of people’s memories of La Jolla,” explained Michael Mischler, the society’s archivist and curator. “We want to show how businesses have gone through hard times and survived.”

He said the society is asking the community’s businesses to contribution images, records and memorabilia to add to the exhibit, as well as the archives.

The exhibit, which runs through Feb. 21, features more than 50 businesses from Warwick’s and Dewhurst & Associates to Meanley & Son Hardware and Rushton’s Bicycle Shop.

Displays are categorized, with themes such as “Every Day Life,” “Signs of the Times” and “Bricks and Mortars.”

Information and artifacts were gathered from local businesses and donors.

“We realize the global economy is a reality,” Executive Director John Bolthouse said in a news release about the exhibit. “But it will always be La Jolla’s great local businesses that will ensure this town’s unique economic identity.”

• Wisteria Cottage
• 780 Prospect St.
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily
• Free