City of San Luis Obispo Sesquicentennial Celebration

Carleton E. Watkins 1876 photo of San Luis Obispo. (Collection of Patrick O'Daniels)

Make sure you click on the Monthly Links to read a special article written in honor of the monthly theme courtesy of the SLO Journal.

You can find additional information on the official city web site by clicking here.

It's updated monthly so be sure to check back soon!

San Luis Obispo Sesquicentennial Celebration 2006

January 2006
By Sandy Baer

Monthly Themes
  •January - Environment
  •February - Recreation, Parks &    Tourism
  •March - Transportation
  •April - Business & Leadership
  •May - Historical Preservation
  •June - Education
  •July - Cultural
  •August - Government
  •September - Agriculture
  •October - Arts

Sesquicentennial: a 150th anniversary or its celebration; of or relating to 150 years. – American Heritage Dictionary

The pueblo of San Luis Obispo was small, only a few houses. Newspapers reported in the 1850’s that San Luis Obispo was “very dull” and “beset with evil characters, and robberies are momentarily expected.” Nevertheless, the once Mexican-ruled pueblo incorporated as a General Law City on February 19, 1856.

One hundred and fifty years later our city is celebrating its birthday as the commercial, governmental and cultural hub of the Central Coast. A Sesquicentennial Steering Committee convened by the City hopes that the community will share their enthusiasm and join in with special events throughout the year.

“This is an opportunity for the city to celebrate itself,” says Wendy George, assistant chief administrative officer for San Luis Obispo, who was instrumental in bringing together two dozen community residents to brainstorm Sesquicentennial events. “This should be a community event, not a City Hall event.”

The Steering Committee first met in October and in November hosted a public meeting where more than a hundred interested local citizens participated in a discussion about possible Sesquicentennial events beginning in January and continuing though October 2006.

Councilman Kenneth Schwartz is honorary chair of the committee and says, “In very simple terms, the Sesquicentennial is a way to alert people to the fact that we are celebrating 150 years of government, when in fact the city was founded in a rather lawless time, It’s a way to remind people that we’ve accomplished a great lot as a city.”

“My goal is to find representative groups that want to commemorate our Sesquicentennial culminating in October with something like a citywide festival in one of our city parks with special recognitions, music and food,” says Kendi Root, chair of the Steering Committee, and a recreation, parks and tourism administration professor at Cal Poly.

Local designer and Steering Committee member Pierre Rademaker created a special logo for the Sesquicentennial that can be used by any local organization on their promotional materials during the year. George says, “Organizations don’t necessarily have to plan special events but rather make what they do a Sesquicentennial event, as a way to acknowledge our history.”

The Steering Committee has designated different aspects of our city for a monthly theme. For instance, January’s focus is on the environment, and this month’s article takes a close look at the impact of San Luis Creek on the development of San Luis Obispo, from the early Chumash settlement to today’s relaxing and art-filled creek walk downtown.

February’s focus is on recreation, parks and tourism and March will be devoted to transportation, followed by business and leadership in April. May is historical preservation month, thus a look at downtown seismic retrofitting and its implications. Education will be highlighted in June, graduation month, and in July culture is on stage.

Local municipal government will be examined in August and agriculture is September’s. October spotlights the arts, as well as the culmination of Sesquicentennial events. “This is just a committee to get things rolling,” George says. “We are clearly still looking for people who want to participate throughout the year as well as the final event in October.”

Several subcommittees have been formed to facilitate Sesquicentennial activities including public relations, grand finale, monthly theme, group outreach and fundraising/products. Root encourages anyone in the community interested in participating in Sesquicentennial activities to contact her at kroot@calpoly.edu or 756-5113. “We don’t want this to be a huge work effort but a springboard for ideas,” George says.