Ongoing

PLEASE NOTE: Marston’s History Emporium was originally designed in 2017 to be a hands-on history lab where families can use all five senses to touch and explore. However, COVID-19 has meant that many of these hands-on elements of the exhibiton can no longer be displayed. Please be patient with us as we determine the best way to provide interactivity while still keeping safe.

Who is a San Diegan? Why is it important to know and understand our history? What do objects, photos, and documents say about our past? How have other children in San Diego made a difference in our community? These are just a few of the questions that will confront visitors to the History Center’s newest exhibition Marston’s History Emporium.

With an imaginative take on what a history emporium might look like, visitors will encounter seven stations, such as:

• Kids Like Me?—Through a collage of children’s photos from the SDHC collection, historic toys, and a seek-and-find game, kids will learn if they share any similarities with children in the past.
• Our San Diego—Rosa Parks Elementary students “curate” a small exhibit that showcases their own interpretations of what San Diego means to them.
• What’s in a Photo?—Featuring large mural photo puzzles, this niche focuses on what we can learn from historical photos.
• Have You Met…?—By digging through our archives, we have uncovered stories of little-known San Diegans like the Bandini Family, Marita Redondo and Sylura Barron, whom young visitors can learn about through documents and photos.
• The Sights, Sounds (and Smells) of Old San Diego—This multi-sensory matching game teaches students about different industries from San Diego’s past.
• There’s History in Our Home—Everyday objects from our living rooms, kitchens, and offices such as telephones, old tools, typewriters, and kitchen gadgets tell us about how people lived in the past.