Draft:The Olaf Wieghorst Museum & Western Heritage Center

= The Olaf Wieghorst Museum & Western Heritage Center =

INTRO
Founded in 1994 to save the home of Danish-American artist Olaf Wieghorst, the Olaf Wieghorst Museum & Western Heritage Center seeks to preserve the work of Olaf Wieghorst and celebrate the heritage of the American West through his art. (1) The museum is located in El Cajon, California.

The museum features examples of Wieghorst’s art created between 1922 and the artist’s death in 1988 along with the artist’s records and family memorabilia. (2) The museum includes the artist’s gallery, exhibition space, the artist’s historic home and studio (a local historic landmark building) and a manicured southwest cactus/succulent garden. (1)

The museum is rated among the top 10 Western Art Museums in the United States by True West Magazine. (3)(4)

 BACKGROUND 

The Wieghorst Museum grew out of a desire to preserve the home Olaf Wieghorst built and lived in with his family between 1947 and 1958. (5)

When the home came on the market in 1993 – five years after Olaf’s death - friends of Olaf approached local real estate investor, Jim Daniels, who with the help of past Congressman Duncan Hunter, secured the financing to purchase the home. (6)(9) Title to the home was transferred to the El Cajon Chamber of Commerce Foundation. (11) The building was dedicated as a museum in 1994. (7)(8)

The Olaf Wieghorst Museum Foundation was created in 1998. (10) It acquired property in downtown El Cajon and in 1999, the Wieghorst home was moved to its current location. (8)

In December 1999, the title to the home was transferred by the Chamber Foundation to the Olaf Wieghorst Museum Foundation. (11)

After extensive restoration efforts, the home was designated a local historical resource. (12) It was opened to the public on March 19, 2009. (13)

 THE COLLECTION 

The heart of the museum’s collection is fifty-three (53) pieces of Olaf’s art donated by the Wieghorst family in 2015. These items date back to the year 1930 and represent the diversity of Olaf’s artistic talent working in mediums including etchings, original sketches, sculptures, oil painting, watercolors, and ink. (2)(9)

 THE GARDEN 

Surrounding the Olaf Wieghorst house is a half-acre cactus/succulent garden curated with plants from around the world that thrive in a southwest desert environment. (14) The garden boasts over 600 specimens from multiple genera. Many of the plants are not often seen in El Cajon or in North America. (17)  It is headed by acclaimed horticulturist and landscape designer Michael Bostwick. (15)(17)

 PROGRAMMING AND ACTIVITIES 

The Wieghorst Museum is an anchor institution in East County San Diego’s El Cajon Art and Entertainment District. The museum presents tours, workshops, classes, exhibitions and events. (1)(16)

The museum provides a place for artists of the Western genre, both performing and visual, to showcase their art. It is available as an event venue for business meetings, receptions, weddings, and institutional fundraising. (1)

References:

1.   "About< Olaf Wieghorst Museum": https://wieghorstmuseum.org/about/ Retrieved June 2, 2024

2.   "Continuing the Olaf Wieghorst legacy, Wieghorst family entrusts family collection to El Cajon museum", Albert H. Fulcher, The East County Californian 01/05/2017

3.   "El Cajon Museum Named One of the Top 10 in the West", San Diego Union Tribune, 29 October 2020

4.   "Western Art Museums of the Year", True West Magazine, September 4, 2022.

5.   "Olaf Wieghorst", by William Reed. Northland Press - Flagstaff, 1969 third printing 1976. At pages 184, 188.

6. "Olaf Wieghorst Historical Home to open March 19", by Miriam Raftery, March 11, 2009,  East County Magazine

7. "El Cajon schedules celebration of past at Wieghorst Home", San Diego Union-Tribune,  August 8, 1995

8. "Wieghorst museum gets scenic ride to downtown El Cajon site", San Diego Union-Tribune, October 22, 1999

9. "Perspective: The Dean of Western Artists", by Gussie Fauntleroy, April/May 2023 Western Art & Architecture magazine

10. "California Secretary of State, Corporate Record Search", OLAF WIEGHORST MUSEUM FOUNDATION (2037362); Initial Filing 02/02/1998; https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business

11. "Reflections of Olaf: A Retrospective", October 3 to December 10, 2015, by the Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center; Spidy Publications (2015)

12. "Home has a colorful history: Wieghorst, dean of Western painters, once lived there", San Diego Union-Tribune, October 25, 2008;

13."Grand opening today at Wieghorst museum: HOUSE MADE TO LOOK AS IT DID WHEN WESTERN ARTIST LIVED THERE", San Diego Union Tribune, March 19, 2009;

14. "Amazing cactus and succulent garden in El Cajon!"  Cool sights San Diego,  October 26, 2023

15. "Grateful Dude: At Home with the Waltons", by Sydie Moore, Uptown News, September 4, 2009;

16. "Discover El Cajon: Wieghorst Museum", City of El Cajon - City Attractions,  https://www.elcajon.gov/discover-el-cajon/city-attractions/wieghorst-museum

17."Olaf Wieghorst Museum celebrates 20 years", by Doug Curlee, Features, La Mesa Courier, News, August 23, 2019