Right: Before the Cave Store, about 1902, there was a shack for the cave entrance. Notice the excavation "tailings" that spill down below, and the sparse native vegetation typical of San Diego. The house at the top of the hill still stands, and the path is now a beautiful public park, Angel's Walk.

Digging began back in 1902. With pick and shovel, the laborers Professor Gustav Shultz hired dug down toward the sea cave.

La Jolla Cave Store

After two years, they came out in the cave that came to be called Sunny Jim, after the popular breakfast cereal mascot.

Eventually wooden steps were added, and much later, electrical lighting. The store was built over the entrance and modified over the years, although it looks today much as it did back in the 1920s.

Above: a doll showing the inspiration for the name "Sunny Jim." Looking at the cave today, you'll notice a large rock near the "chin" which fell down in a storm just a few years ago. You can imagine the profile resemblance was stronger before that little natural event.

Left: Professor Schultz was a bit of a character himself. We'll get into his story, or as much as we can tell publicly, later.