The WESTERN ART of Richard C Ybarra
2022-04-23 10:00 - 2022-05-22 15:00 UTC | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
See the work of award winning artist Richard C Ybarra on exhibition at the museum Fridays and Saturdays 10 am to 3 pm. thru May 21st.

Artists Reception - Richard C Ybarra
2022-04-23 16:00 - 19:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
Richard C Ybarra
The public is cordially invited to attend a reception for noted photographer and artist: Richard C Ybarra.
Known for his Western Paintings, prints and photographs, his work will be on display in the Museum’s forward gallery.
Meet the artist in an informal setting.
Admission is free. Free parking.

Un recorrido en Español - Spanish Language Tour
2022-09-30 11:00 - 13:00, 2023-02-17 11:00 - 13:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
Join Cesar Garcia for a Spanish language tour of the Olaf Wieghorst Museum.

Únase a César García para un recorrido en español por el Museo Olaf Wieghorst

Old Spanish Trail Centennial Association
2022-10-25 14:00 - 20:00 | CA
The Old Spanish Trail Centennial Association (OST100) is celebrating the centennial of the transcontinental highway between Saint Augustine, Florida and San Diego.

This is an orientation and planning meeting for individuals and groups interested in planning or sponsoring a San Diego – Imperial County celebration next year (in November of 2023).

The association was organized to locate, revitalize and preserve the roadway, businesses and historic sites of the original 1920s OLD SPANISH TRAIL auto highway for a decade long Centennial Celebration with a 2029 motorcade grand finale from St. Augustine, Florida to San Diego, California.
The San Diego County sections of the Old Spanish Trail begin in downtown San Diego. The trail follows the approximate route of old U.S. Highway 80 with several variations and route changes over the years. The Imperial County sections also follows the US 80 corridor from Ocotillo to Yuma, AZ, the route includes the historic plank road section through the Imperial Sand Dunes.
Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, OST100 has reenacted OST annual conferences in various cities since 2015. Local planning for past conferences has made for very successful seminars, OST city and county exhibits, walks and drives along the historic corridors.
For information or an invitation to the planning meeting, please contact: Charlotte Kahl, (210) 735-3503 or OST100Kahl@aol.com

Painting with Palette Knives
2022-11-19 12:00 - 14:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
Painting with palette knives is a centuries old impasto technique often combined with more traditional application of paint using a brush. Few modern artists paint exclusively with palette knives.
If you would like to see how it is done, the Olaf Wieghorst Museum is hosting a demonstration of palette knife art.
You can watch noted artist Dusty Kinman describe his technique as he creates an original work of landscape art.
This two hour presentation is open to Wieghorst Museum members, donors and invited guests. Tickets Required.
Not a member?
Join today
Learn more about membership in El Cajon’s number one museum of western art.
Learn more

Artists Reception - Dusty Kinman
2022-11-19 17:00 - 20:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
The public is cordially invited to attend a reception for noted palette knife artist: Dusty Kinman.
Known for his dramatic landscape art featuring southwest themes, his work will be on display in the Museum’s forward gallery.
Meet the artist in an informal setting.
Admission is free. Free parking.

"A White Christmas" Holiday Tea
2022-12-10 11:00 - 14:00 | Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Avenue, , CA 92020, El Cajon, CA, United States
Join the Friends of East County Arts for “A White Christmas” Holiday Tea.
This is the annual holiday fundraising event for San Diego East County arts and education organizations.
Enjoy fellowship, champagne, finger sandwiches, English scones, decadent desserts, door prizes, opportunity drawings, and amazing entertainment
$75 Per Person – Seating is Limited.
Reserve Your Seat Now!
For further inquiries please email: ritakv@cox.net
Deadline to register is November 28th, 2022

Just in Time for Christmas Art Sale
2022-12-16 10:00 - 2022-12-17 15:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
It’s the “JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS and White Elephant Art Sale.”
The Wieghorst Museum is cleaning out its storeroom and selling a selection of framed limited edition prints by Olaf Wieghorst, framed originals and prints by other artists and several “white elephants” donated to the museum for resale.
Check out the items with pink “sale” tags. These items will make great Christmas gifts and the proceeds will be used to keep the museum doors open and lights on for another year.

The sale begins Friday, December 16th and ends Friday, December 23rd. We are open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm.
Call the museum 619-590-3431 for information.

Gail Nellans
2022-12-18 12:00 - 17:00 | Courtyard by Marriott San Diego El Cajon, 141 N Magnolia Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020
Gail Nellans is a local artist with a passion for bold designs. She is an impressionist painter who uses real objects as the base for her flight of imaginative art.

Never quite sure where her brushes may take her, she channels an unseen muse to arrive at artistic destinations.

We like this painting of her son taming a bronco on his Ramona Double S Ranch. You can almost feel the arena sand!

You can meet Gail Nellans and see her art at: The Courtyard by Marriott El Cajon (across the street from the Wieghorst Museum).

Want a sneak peek at her art? Visit her gallery at: Vivid Art by Gail

Leadership East County
2023-02-09 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
The East County Chamber of Commerce brings its Leadership East County program to the Wieghorst Museum.

Old Spanish Trail Centennial Celebration
2023-11-02 - 2023-11-05 | Courtyard by Marriott San Diego El Cajon, 141 N Magnolia Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020
In the fall of 1945, Olaf Wieghorst drove with his wife and 14 year old son from St. Augustine, Florida to El Cajon following a route known earlier as the Old Spanish Trail Highway. The highway was first conceived in 1915 and built out by the late 1920’s. By 1945, the route was known as US Highway 90 between St. Augustine and San Antonio, Texas, and US Highway 80 between Texas and San Diego.

It is therefore our pleasure to host the opening reception of the Old Spanish Trail Centennial Association (OST100) Convention on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at the Wieghorst Museum.
If you would like to attend the convention, become an exhibitor or event sponsor, or just learn more about the event, please see the Information and Registration Packet or contact the Centennial Association at: OST100Kahl@aol.com
# # #
The Old Spanish Trail (the OST) was an auto trail that once spanned the United States with almost 2,750 miles (4,430 km) of roadway from ocean to ocean. It crossed eight states and 67 counties along the southern border of the United States. Work on the auto highway began in 1915 at a meeting held at the Battle House Hotel in Mobile, Alabama; and, by the 1920s, the trail linked St. Augustine, Florida, to San Diego, California, with its center and headquarters in San Antonio, Texas.
California involvement was spearheaded by real estate developer Colonel Ed Fletcher and supported by San Diego County Supervisors Joseph Foster (Lakeside) and Charles Good (of Lemon Grove).
This event is part of a decade-long centennial celebration which began in 2019 and will end with a 2029 motorcade from St. Augustine, Florida to San Diego.

Building Old Highway 80
2023-11-03 08:00 - 13:00 | Courtyard by Marriott San Diego El Cajon, 141 N Magnolia Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020
Building Old Highway 80 is the 100 year old story of Col. Ed Fletcher and the people who brought a transcontinental highway to San Diego.
Join us for a morning presentation by an outstanding lineup of historians and writers.
The Speakers

Bonnie Fletcher, San Diego native, descendant of Col. Ed Fletcher, Trustee of the San Diego History Center and Co-chair of the Ed & Mary Fletcher Foundation,
Robert M. Harding, Jr, writer, lecturer and VP of the Lakeside Historical Society,
John W. Murphey, architectural historian and research consultant now based in Santa Fe, New Mexico,
Connie Sue Low, Travel and Texas history writer, and
Charlotte Kahl, President of the Old Spanish Trail Centennial Association.

The Topics

Building Old Highway 80,
Ed Fletcher: Bringing Highways to San Diego,
Remembering Harry Locke – Prolific US Early Highway Designer,
and more….

Before Interstate 8 there was US Highway 80. Before US Highway 80 there was an auto trail that stretched from San Diego to Florida.
Telling the story is the theme of the morning session of the Old Spanish Trail Centennial Conference and Celebration scheduled for November 3rd, 2023 at the Marriott Hotel in El Cajon. After the morning session you are invited to browse the exhibits in the adjacent exhibit hall. Meet the speakers and relive this exciting period in San Diego history when the automobile was young.
Attending the Event
Attending the event is free, however, registration is required to attend the complimentary lunch on Friday, November 3rd. For information, please see the Information and Registration Packet or contact the Centennial Association at: OST100Kahl@aol.com
About Us
The Old Spanish Trail Centennial Celebration Association (OST100) was organized to locate, revitalize and preserve the roadway, businesses and historic sites of the original 1920s OLD SPANISH TRAIL (OST) auto highway and to create a decade long Centennial Celebration reenacting annual conferences held by the original Old Spanish Trail Association of the early 1900s.
Plans began in 2002 for a decade-long OST Centennial Celebration with the first reenactment set for 2015 in Mobile, Alabama. Annual conference reenactments have been held in various cities and will culminate in a grand historic transcontinental motorcade in 2029.
About the History
The first San Diego OST conference was held in 1923 hosted by Col. Ed Fletcher, then vice president of the Old Spanish Trail Association.
The San Antonio, Texas OST Headquarters Executive Director brought together California highway engineers and commissioners, chambers of commerce and Good Roads Club members. They discussed how best to pave the OST into and across southern California. El Cajon Boulevard and the El Cajon to Alpine, Pine Valley and Boulevard corridors were chosen as the OST route.

It is a Back Country Drive on Olde Highway 80
2023-11-04 09:00 - 15:00 | Courtyard by Marriott San Diego El Cajon, 141 N Magnolia Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020
Please Join Us for a Back Country Drive on Olde Highway 80

This event is part of the Old Spanish Trail Centennial Conference and Celebration to be held at the Marriott Hotel in El Cajon, California on November 2-5, 2023.

Before Interstate 8 there was US Highway 80. Before US Highway 80 there was an auto trail that stretched from San Diego to Florida. It was called the Old Spanish Trail Auto Highway and it is 100 years old!

Download the information and registration packet
Other conference events include the seminar speakers on Friday morning:

Bonnie Fletcher, San Diego native, descendant of Col. Ed Fletcher, Trustee of the San Diego History Center and Co-chair of the Ed & Mary Fletcher Foundation,
Robert M. Harding, Jr, writer, lecturer and VP of the Lakeside Historical Society,
John W. Murphey, architectural historian and research consultant now based in Santa Fe, New Mexico,
Connie Sue Low, Travel and Texas history writer, and
Charlotte Kahl, President of the Old Spanish Trail Centennial Association.

Topics include:

Building Olde US 80,
Ed Fletcher: Bringing Highways to San Diego,
Remembering Harry Locke – Prolific US Early Highway Designer,
and more….

About Us
The Old Spanish Trail Centennial Celebration Association (OST100) was organized to locate, revitalize and preserve the roadway, businesses and historic sites of the original 1920s OLD SPANISH TRAIL (OST) auto highway and to create a decade long Centennial Celebration reenacting annual conferences held by the original Old Spanish Trail Association of the early 1900s.
Plans began in 2002 for a decade-long OST Centennial Celebration with the first reenactment set for 2015 in Mobile, Alabama. Annual conference reenactments have been held in various cities and will culminate in a grand historic transcontinental motorcade in 2029.
About the History
Col. Ed Fletcher, then vice president of the Old Spanish Trail Association, hosted the first San Diego OST conference in 1923.
The San Antonio, Texas OST Headquarters Executive Director brought together California highway engineers and commissioners, chambers of commerce and Good Roads Club members. They discussed how best to pave the OST into and across southern California. El Cajon Boulevard and the El Cajon to Alpine, Pine Valley and Boulevard corridors were chosen as the OST route.

Veterans Day
2023-11-11 12:00 - 14:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
The Olaf Wieghorst Museum proudly invites American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Elks (BPOE) and Veterans East County Alliance (VECA) members and their families to honor and celebrate our Veterans on Veterans Day.

High School Art Workshop
2024-03-09 - 2024-03-10 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
The Museum will be holding a High School Art Workshop on an invitation basis. Contact the museum for office for information.

Moodscapes of America and Vivid Art by Gail
2024-05-04 12:00 - 2024-06-15 16:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
Held over by popular demand!
The exhibition of art by local artists AJ Bartelle and Gail Nellans will be open through June 15, 2024 at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum.
We have combined two shows into one: “Moodscapes of America” and “Vivid Art by Gail.”
Show hours are Fridays from 11 am to 3 pm and Saturdays from noon to 4 pm.

Meet the Artist: Andrea Rushing
2024-09-13 17:00 - 20:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
Meet the Artist: Andrea Rushing
The Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center in El Cajon will hold a reception for Andrea Rushing on Friday, September 13, 2024.
The reception marks the opening of the exhibition titled:
Andrea Rushing – Scenes and People of the Frontier American West
The public is invited to meet Mr. Rushing and enjoy a representative display of his art.

The reception begins at 5:00 pm and will conclude at 8 pm. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served.
Meet the Artist: Andrea Rushing is part of the 13th Annual Alley Cat Art Walk. All art galleries and restaurants in downtown El Cajon will be open with live entertainment on Prescott Promenade.

Scenes and People of the Frontier American West
2024-09-13 17:00 - 2024-11-03 16:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
Currently showing at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum is an exhibition of the art of Andrea Rushing and his Scenes and People of the Frontier American West.
You can visit the Museum on Fridays between 11 am and 3 pm or
Saturdays between noon and 2 pm.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see the work of this amazing local artist.

Meet Jim Daniels
2024-10-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Santee City Hall, 10601 Magnolia Ave, Santee, California, United States
Meet Jim Daniels!
Olaf Wieghorst Museum Foundation President Jim Daniels will be speaking to the Friends of the Santee Library.
Jim provides an engaging look at the life Olaf Wieghorst and the museum that bears the Wieghorst name. Learn what the museum is up to and the exciting plans for the museum’s future.
The event is free and open to the public. There is ample on-site free parking.

Moments Come and Gone
2024-11-15 08:00 - 2025-01-05 08:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
Capture the Moments at our holiday art show.
The Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center in El Cajon proudly presents talented young artists:
Lydia Jenson ⦁ Noah Sandberg ⦁ Courtney West

America on Main Street - El Cajon 2025
2025-05-17 | Downtown El Cajon, El Cajon, California, 92020
America on Main Street is in Downtown El Cajon on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Admission and most activities are free of charge.
America on Main Street is a celebration of the American spirit through appreciation and respect of the many diverse ethnic and historical groups in the community. This entertaining and exciting event is held every year in Downtown El Cajon on East Main Street and Rea Avenue, between Magnolia and Claydelle Avenues.
Highlights include multiple stages of live entertainment, American and ethnic food booths, rides, arts, crafts and display booths, a petting zoo, bounce houses and more!
Look for events on the Centennial Plaza Stage, the Prescott Promenade Stage and the Main Street Stage along with street performances.

There will be interactive FREE experiences for everyone to enjoy including Arts & Crafts and Games and Thrilling FREE rides!

ARTIVÁL San Diego
2025-06-07 10:00 - 18:00 | CA
ARTIVÁL San Diego is coming to El Cajon.
Artivál San Diego is shaping up to be the art event of the year in East County.

Over fifty (50) artists will be on hand to exhibit their creations. Their art will be for sale. And you can use the opportunity to meet the artists face-to-face. It is an amazing opportunity to meet these amazing people.
While you are there, enjoy the live entertainment, gourmet food trucks, and a beer and wine garden showcasing premier regional wineries and San Diego’s top breweries.
It is no surprise the event is causing a media buzz. FINE San Diego magazine writes: “Forget what you thought you knew about El Cajon.” El Cajon Ignites with Artivál Street Festival This June
The Times of San Diego says: “A new cultural tradition is coming to East County.” Artivál brings culture, creativity, and community to Downtown El Cajon
San Diego Magazine calls Artival “a vibrant showcase” and an “open air celebrations … to highlight the community’s cultural identity.” Arts and Culture
– – – – –
Artivál San Diego is backed by a coalition of businesses including The Magnolia, the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, East County Art Association, Olaf Wieghorst Museum, Carlos Castrejon, Denise Rich Art, St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, Downtown Cafe Bar & Grill, Por Favor Mexican Restaurant, and Rodizio Grill – San Diego. Together they support the largest art and wine festival held in East County San Diego’s El Cajon Art and Entertainment District.
The 2025 ARTIVÁL Art + Wine + Music Festival makes its debut in Downtown El Cajon on June 7th.

Spring Garden Show
2025-06-10 11:00 - 2025-07-13 15:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
It is a Spring Garden Show!
Join us for a Spring Garden Show at the Olaf Wieghorst Botanical Garden. This year we are celebrating spring with both indoor and outdoor displays of flowering plants.
Indoors we have the vivid floral artistry of Gail Nellans. Outdoors we have flowering Opintias, Cereus, Aloes, Hesperaloe and Tephrocactus.

The exhibit runs now through July 12th. Open Fridays – Saturdays – Sundays. Check museum for hours.

Meet the Artist - Gail Nellans
2025-07-12 13:00 - 17:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
Meet the Artist – Gail Nellans
Meet the artist – Gail Nellans – the artist behind Vivid Art by Gail. You enjoyed her work at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum Botanical Garden’s Spring Garden Show. Now you can meet Gail in person.
Gail is finishing her exhibition at the Wieghorst Museum with a closing reception.

Join Us!
Saturday | July 12th, 2025| 1pm-5pm
Free Entry|Enjoy Light Refreshments

The Etchings of Olaf Wieghorst
2025-09-12 00:00 - 2025-10-10 00:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
The etchings of Olaf Wieghorst were created between 1936 and 1940. In all there were forty-seven (47) produced. Twenty-six (26) original etchings along with one original copper etching plate are on display at the exhibition.

“In Trouble” depicts a twisting bronc as it tries to throw its rider. It is the artist’s best known etching.

Learn more about the Olaf Wieghorst story and lost art of copper plate etching. The museum is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 11am to 3 pm.
The Etchings of Olaf Wieghorst debuts at the 14th Annual Alley Cat Art Walk on Friday September 12th at 4 p.m..

Alley Cat Artwalk 2025 - El Cajon
2025-09-12 16:00 - 20:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
Come Join us for the Alley Cat Artwalk 2025 and the opening of an exhibition of
The Etchings of Olaf Wieghorst
at the Alley Cat Artwalk 2025 venue: the Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center.

And don’t forget to visit our Alley Cat Partners
At Alley Cat Artwalk 2025!
Visit each of our partners and return your completed passport card to be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a Wieghorst print.

See you there!

David Lund Memorial
2025-09-13 16:00 - 20:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
Memorial gathering for museum volunteer David Joseph Lund (1955-2025).

Hauntfest El Cajon 2025
2025-10-17 16:00 - 21:00 | Downtown El Cajon, El Cajon, California, 92020
Hauntfest on Main is an annual family-friendly Halloween themed event held in Downtown El Cajon. This free event features live music, costume contests, carnival rides, a haunted car show, and a variety of local vendors offering food, crafts, games and more!
Date: Friday, October 17, 2025
Time: 4:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Downtown El Cajon
Event Information

Boots & Belles
2025-11-08 14:00 - 18:00 | Olaf Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92020, United States
It is a fashion show at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum!
Boots & Belles and Wear Live Art (WALA) bring fashion and art together, showcasing clothing and accessories with a western flair.
Buy Tickets Now!

This event is our first fashion show in over a decade and we are excited to bring art and western fashion together for our members and guests.
If you are not a museum member, this is your chance to join the excitement.
When: Saturday, November 8th, 2025 2pm to 6 pm
Where: Olaf Wieghorst Museum 131 Rea Avenue, El Cajon
Parking: Free on street parking and at a nearby public lot.
Admission: Members – $15; Non-Members – $25; Admission plus one year membership – $35
For additional information, call Helen at 619-599-3686.
