The Beginning of the Wieghorst Museum

The beginning was a monthly lunch group that met for many years in El Cajon that included Olaf Wieghorst. Also part of the group were Bill Casper, the artist, and Russ Stockwell, the husband of then Councilwoman Harriet Stockwell. Occasionally, one could find John Wayne and other notables swapping stories and sharing good memories.

In the Beginning – It Was Just An Idea

After Olaf’s passing, Casper and Stockwell continued to meet and eventually conceived the idea of developing a museum that would fit the memory and the artistic talents of their friend, Olaf.

In early 1993 they invited Jim Daniels, a real estate investor, to join the lunch discussions and convinced him of the worthiness of their project. A long festering idea gained new life. The Wieghorst’s old house at Rennette and Sunshine was up for sale and Jim made an offer on the property. This threesome engaged Congressman Duncan Hunter who agreed to introduce them to a possible group of investors. Several rejections later, one person, Guille Tuttle, rose to the occasion and loaned the necessary funds to start the new museum. The house closed escrow on Christmas Day, 1993. At this point, Olaf’s son Roy and Jim Daniels donated initial operating funds.

Building a New Foundation

In early 1994, with donated legal services from Steve Lambert, a new organization was formed with both the funds and the house being transferred to the El Cajon Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Its sole activity was the museum with Jim Daniels as CEO and Terry Saverson as Vice President. Immediately, El Cajon residents and business persons, Dan Conaway and Chuck Hansen, became directors. In the next two years they were followed by El Cajon City Manager Bob Acker, County Supervisor George Bailey, Lynn Endicott, Lori Roberts, Terry Paik, Roy and Barbara Wieghorst among others. In December of 1999 the property was transferred by the Chamber Foundation to the newly formed Olaf Wieghorst Museum Foundation, a non-profit organization.

While the house remained at Rennette and Sunshine during the Foundation’s formative years it, became the target of vandalism, which included graffiti and break-ins. The new board felt that a move to downtown El Cajon would be prudent. Daniel’s met with City officials regarding leasing the land on Rea Avenue for the house and also investigated acquiring the adjoining old Goodwill building for the museum.

Renovation and Relocation

In April of 1999, Guille Tuttle took over the reins of the museum and accomplished the renovations of the Goodwill building into a proper museum facility as well as managing the relocation of the house to where it is today. A dream of a few close friends of Olaf was finally a reality.

The Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center of today includes the original house, fully restored and filled with many family treasures, a world-class botanical garden designed to represent the flora of the southwest, and the remodeled Museum interior and galleries. Docent tours of the house and galleries are available for visitors as well as rotating selection of art shows throughout the year. The gallery exhibits art by the master, Olaf Wieghorst, year round.

The Dream

One of Olaf’s dreams was that the ‘old west’ with all of its unique and exciting history, some of which he lived, not be forgotten.

Our founders’ dream was that Olaf Wieghorst, Dean of Western Painters, good friend and resident of El Cajon, never be forgotten and that his legacy, life and art will forever be available for all to enjoy.

“When my time comes for me to put away my palette and unsaddle my pony for the last time,

I hope that my canvases will, in some small measure, add to the historical recording of an era:

the cowboy and the Great American West.”

~Olaf Wieghorst

Reflections of Olaf: A Retrospective, Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center, (2015)