The area is home to the
Kumeyaay, Payómkawichum, Kuupiaxchem, and Cahuilla peoples.
George Marston persuaded the San Diego City Council in 1899 to pass an ordinance preserving of the pueblo land as a park. Later between 1908 and 1911, newspaperwoman and philanthropist
Ellen Browning Scripps bought additional land and donated it to the city. In 1916,
Guy Fleming visited the park and after examining the current condition, pushed for preservation of the park and eventually became the District Superintendent for the Southern California State Park System. The Torrey Pines Lodge was completed in 1923 and a year later, more lands were added to the park. Now consisting of over of cliffs, beach, and more, the park became open to the public. In 1956, it was decided that the park be handed over to the State of California for higher protection because it is a state reserve. In 1970, and 1,500 trees were added due to fear of human expansion. Later in 1975, the Torrey Pines Docent Society was started to help promote preservation of the park, in addition to the Visitors Center. In 2007, the park's name was changed to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. The park size is now over . The official Torrey Pines website provides more detail on the establishment of the Torrey Pines Reserve. ==Ecology==