The mission of the San Diego History Center is to tell the diverse story of our region—past, present, and future—educate and enrich our community, preserve our history, and foster civic pride. The History Center is the steward of our heritage and the principal resource for San Diego history – collecting, preserving and displaying unparalleled collections of regional history.

The History Center accepts donations of photographs, documents, artwork and three-dimensional objects that complement our collections and fulfill our mission on a case-by-case basis. Each donation request is thoughtfully considered to determine if the gift is in line with the specific criteria for the acquisition of donations, as outlined in the History Center’s Collections Policy. Items accepted into the Museum’s collection must be consistent with the institution’s mission.