Lomaland facts for kids
Lomaland was a special community in Point Loma, San Diego, California. It existed from 1900 to 1942. Katherine Tingley, a leader of the Theosophical Society, started it in 1900. It was a school, a place for culture, and homes for her followers. The main office for the Theosophical Society Pasadena in America was also there.
Lomaland was important to San Diego because of its cultural events. Its campus, which is now Point Loma Nazarene University, still has many of its unique buildings. The people of Lomaland also changed their neighborhood. They planted so many trees and plants that the area is now called the "Wooded Area."
Katherine Tingley wanted to create a community that showed the ideas of Theosophy. This included beliefs about life and helping others. She imagined a "White City" on the western edge of North America, looking towards India. India was seen as a spiritual center for Theosophy. This mix of new ideas, old traditions, and Indian spirituality made Lomaland a very special place. Its unique buildings can still be seen today at Point Loma Nazarene University.
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Early Days and Growth
In 1897, Katherine Tingley bought land at Point Loma. In February 1897, she laid the first stone for a school. It was called the School for the Revival of the Lost Mysteries of Antiquity. By 1899, Tingley moved to Lomaland. In 1900, the Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society also set up its main office there.
The Lomaland community wanted to grow its own food. They planted many types of plants and trees. These included avocados and oranges. Katherine Tingley wanted to serve fresh fruits and vegetables every day of the year.
Learning at Lomaland
In the summer of 1900, the Raja Yoga school opened at Lomaland. "Raja Yoga" meant a divine union or connection. The school taught not only smarts but also good morals and spiritual growth. The Raja Yoga Academy was a boarding school. Over 300 students lived together in homes called "Lotus Houses." Children from poor families could attend for free.
Students also performed plays by Shakespeare and ancient Greek dramas. Every student had to learn to play at least one musical instrument. After 1905, the school had the first school orchestra in the United States. They held weekly concerts and even went on tour.
A Theosophical university was started in 1919. It offered classes in arts and sciences. The state of California officially recognized it. In 1942, the university moved to Covina.
Lomaland also had a publishing house. It printed books and materials for the community. It changed its name a few times over the years.
Special Buildings of Lomaland
At its busiest, Lomaland had many buildings, some very unique. By 1900, the campus had the large Academy Building and the Temple of Peace. These buildings had a special style with flat arches and old-fashioned designs. They had amethyst domes on top. These domes were lit at night and could be seen from the ocean.
The entrance to the Temple of Peace had two huge carved doors. These doors showed the Theosophical ideas of spiritual growth and human potential. Today, these doors are kept in the San Diego Historical Society archives. Reginald Machell, the sculptor, moved to Lomaland in 1899. He also oversaw the woodworking school there.
Lomaland had public buildings for everyone and several private homes. The home of Albert Spalding, a famous sporting goods business owner, was built in 1901. This building mixed old wooden architecture with designs like columns shaped like papyrus leaves. Its amethyst dome was fixed up in 1983.
The first Greek theater in North America was built here in 1901. It was used for sports and plays. In 1909, patterned floors and covered walkways were added. Many Greek and Shakespearean plays were performed there.
Cabrillo Hall was finished in 1909. It was the main office for the Theosophical Society. Katherine Tingley also lived there after 1909. It was moved in the early 2000s and is now home to the Communication Studies department at the university.
The Executive Building was a rectangular building used for many things. It was near the Academy Building. It handled phone and mail services. In 1908, it was used to show items from the Woman's Exchange and Mart.
What Happened After Lomaland?
Lomaland closed down after the Great Depression in the 1930s. Also, Katherine Tingley passed away in 1929. In 1942, the campus was sold to George W. Wood, a developer from Coronado. The Theosophical Society staff and students moved to Covina.
Wood planned to build homes on the property. However, due to rules and the condition of the buildings, he could only bring in a small number of people. After Wood died, Dwight Stanford helped buy the property for Balboa University. This deal was completed on September 15, 1950.
That same year, Balboa University joined with the Southern California Methodist Conference. It changed its name to California Western University and moved to Lomaland. Over the years, the campus changed hands a few more times.
In 1968, California Western University became United States International University (USIU). The law school kept the name Cal Western. In 1973, Pasadena College moved to Point Loma to take its place. USIU moved to Scripps Ranch. Pasadena College was renamed Point Loma College, and then Point Loma Nazarene University. It is still located there today.
