The San Diego History Center, located in Balboa Park, will launch its 2015 Centennial Celebration year on Friday, November 21, 2014, with a marquee exhibition celebrating San Diego’s renowned local author, Theodor Geisel. Entitled INGENIOUS! The World of Dr. Seuss, the exhibition, developed in cooperation with locally-based Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. and Chase Art Companies, will feature artwork by Geisel, some inspired by San Diego locales. This whimsical fun-filled exhibition will also include family-friendly activities based on Dr. Seuss books’ underlying themes: Literacy, the Environment, Family, and Community. http://www.sandiegohistory.org/Ingenious_TheWorldofSeuss

The exhibition, begins with early drawings in Life magazine, including editorial, advertising, military, and book illustrations, and finally, works from the Secret Art Collection. Imagery in the exhibition is drawn from significant public and private collections, including the Dr. Seuss Archives at the University of California, San Diego, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library, and the Dr. Seuss Estate, featuring rare and never-before-seen images from the 1920s to ’90s.

Thirty-two didactic panels present both original and reproduced historical ephemera from 1927 through 1990, along with a selection of authorized estate editions reproduced after Dr. Seuss’s lifetime under exclusive permission from his family. Visitors to the exhibition will come away with an in-depth look at the multifaceted artistic career of America’s best known children’s book author.

“Dr. Seuss Enterprises is proud to bring this exhibition to Ted’s home for the people of San Diego to enjoy,” said Susan Brandt, President of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. “Many locals know that Dr. Seuss lived here, and while they have read his books many have not yet seen his art. This exhibition will show the community another fantastical side of Dr. Seuss.”

In describing the exhibition, History Center Executive Director, Charlotte Cagan stated, “This exhibition is a unique two-fold presentation: We will feature the artwork of Theodor Geisel, particularly works inspired by our locale, providing an exceptional opportunity to showcase him as a serious San Diego artist; and we will create a dynamic, immersive family experience inspired by the whimsically creative books of Dr. Seuss.”

The History Center’s CELEBRATE SAN DIEGO! Exhibition line-up also includes: Masterworks of the Exposition Era, featuring renowned artwork displayed at the 1915 Art Exhibition; San Diego Invites the World, a multi-media commemoration of the 1915 Exposition; and a new documentary film on the History of Balboa Park, funded in part by the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) and the San Diego Tourism Marketing District.