San Diego is the eighth most populous city in California. In it’s long history, many events stand out. One in particular is it’s hosting of the 1915 Pan-California Exposition in Balboa Park. The extremely popular event was put on to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal. One of the surviving buildings is the Botanic Building, seen here in a 1915 photo.
Facing the opposite direction is Lily Pond, with the Fine Arts and Commerce and Industry buildings in the background of this 1915 photo.
Also still there is the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, home to the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ. It has 5,000+ pipes ranging from 1 foot to 32 feet. The first photo is dated 1915.
The Cabrillo Bridge was and still is a favored access to Balboa Park. It was built in 1915 specifically for the Pan-Califonia Exposition. At 1,500 feet long and 125 feet high, it was a marvelous way to enter Balboa Park, as many certainly did in this 1915 photo. As a point of reference, note the white building on the right in each photo.
Street Cars
A popular method for getting around the City of San Diego was by double-decker electric street car, the first ever on the West Coast. Today, double-decker buses are used, primarily for sight-seeing tours. The first photo is dated 1892 at 5th and Market Street.
La Jolla
La Jolla is a seaside neighborhood in San Diego with seven miles of coastline and stunning views. The first photo is dated 1894.
Point Loma
West of downtown San Diego is Point Loma with its iconic Old Point Loma Lighthouse which opened in 1855. The first photo is dated 1911.
