Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center

The State of California has issued a Regional Stay Home Order that affects San Diego County, beginning Monday, December 7th. It prohibits private gatherings of any size and closes museums along with other facilities. In keeping with best practices, the Olaf Wieghorst Museum will be closed through the holidays. We wish you a Merry Christmas and hope to see you in the New Year. https://www.sandiegocounty.gov//dc/2019-nCoV/reopening.html

Local artist and teacher, Chuck McPherson’s impression of "Olaf’s Homestead" was selected for exhibition by the San Diego Watercolor Society. He recently led a watercolor workshop for aspiring artists at the Wieghorst Museum. Artists are welcome to visit the Museum’s cactus garden and homestead building. There are lots of interesting shapes to challenge your talent, technique and creativity.

With relaxing of COVID restrictions, museums are coming back! We take your safety seriously and have taken proactive measures to ensure the well-being of our guests, staff and volunteers. The museum is open Friday and Saturday,10 AM to 3 PM. ... We are also opening our gates for out-of-doors events. Appointments may be scheduled for small group visits at other times by contacting Mike Bostwick (619) 277-5798 or John Stauffer (619) 990-4536 We are so glad you have continued to support us in these troubled times. We urge you to stay tuned for events and happenings as we create new opportunities for artists young and old to participate with us. Masks and social distancing required.

The Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center mourns the passing of Barbara Jean Wieghorst on September 26, 2020. She and her husband, Ray, were active supporters and members of the Museum's board of directors since the organization was founded thirty years ago. Barbara shared her community activism with several other organizations most notably with the Angels of Aseltine Auxiliary where she was an active member. The Auxiliary supports the work of the Aseltine School . Barbara's class and her smile will be missed by us all.

The Wieghorst Museum has been named one of the Top 10 Western Art Museums for 2020 by the True West Magazine. These ten museums were called the best of the best for lovers of Western art, Western history and Western museums. We are grateful to be listed alongside other outstanding western art museums. The top 10 are: The Brinton Museum, Big Horn, WY... CM Russell Museum, Great Falls, MT Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art, Trinidad, CO Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center Joslyn Museum, Omaha, NE Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, Ridgedale, MO Taos Art Museum at Fechin House, Taos, NM True West Magazine is the world’s oldest, continuously published Western American magazine. It celebrates western heritage and is dedicated to keeping the spirit of the old west alive. If you are not familiar with True West Magazine, you can learn more at True West Magazine.

Join us for an open air workshop with the quick-witted, flamboyant artist, Chuck McPherson. McPherson will share his thoughts about painting in mixed media and demonstrate in watercolor from 9:00am to 10am. Attending artists are free to paint around the Garden with artist input available until noon. ... Workshop Focus: Expressive painting in plein air (Watercolor and Mixed Media) Location: Wieghorst Museum Cactus Garden 131 Rea Avenue, El Cajon When: Saturday, October 17, 2020 9:00 AM to noon Cost: Members $30.00 Non-Members $35.00 Parking: Free A presentation of the East County Art Association

It is our 5th annual GhostRiders event! Stay safe at home and avoid the virus. Tickets are available for this phantom event at https://wieghorstmuseum.org/shop/... Join us!

We hope to see you at the RP Kidd artist reception - Oct 24th 4:30-7:00pm!!

Olaf Wieghorst Present 20th Anniversary Celebration Come and enjoy entertainment with live musical performances by grammy award winner Jonni Glazer. August 3rd Tickets on sale now http://wieghorstmuseumevents.com/tickets/general-admission/

Be sure to get your tickets - http://wieghorstmuseumevents.com/

We hope to see you at the Aug. 3 Olaf Retrospective - http://wieghorstmuseumevents.com

Be sure to get your tickets for our Aug. 3 event - http://wieghorstmuseumevents.com

We had a full house! The Sip & Paint class was so much fun. Thanks to our instructor, Katie, for making us feel like we actually had talent. Good company and good fun. Stay tuned. We'll do it again in the fall.

The cactus garden is coming to life with blooms galore.