Celebrating Balboa Park’s Centennial – The San Diego Natural History Museum

April 28th, 2015

San Diego Natural History Museum - Balboa Park

San Diego Natural History Museum – Balboa Park

In honor of Balboa Park’s Centennial Celebration, we will feature some of the park’s greatest attractions with a stop at the San Diego Natural History Museum.  Founded in 1874, the San Diego Society of Natural History is the oldest scientific institution in Southern California.  Not much happened in the early years, but the members did create a weather station and petitioned to create Torrey Pines State Reserve.

In June of 1912, the members met in the Hotel Cecil on 6th Avenue and few exhibits were installed in a single room and an alcove.  The society had opened its first museum!  In 1917, the society purchased a vacant building from the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.  The museum occupied three different buildings in Balboa Park before they even celebrated their 50th anniversary and finally moved into today’s location, designed by San Diego’s leading architect of the time, William T. Johnson.  The $175,000 Natural History Museum building was formally dedicated on January 14, 1933.

“Founded in 1874, the San Diego Society of Natural History is the oldest scientific institution in Southern California.”

In 1943, the United States Navy took over the Natural History Museum for hospital use, becoming the infectious diseases ward.  Some renovations took place in the facility, including the addition of an elevator designed to handle hospital gurneys and a nurses’ station between floors.  Both features remain in use today.  Once the staff was allowed to reoccupy the building, a major renovation took place and the board adopted a firm policy to restrict collections to the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico.

In April 2001, the new construction more than doubled the size of the old building from 65,000 square feet of useable space to 150,000 square feet.

 The museum presently houses a collection of permanent displays as well as other fascinating exhibits which constantly change and evolve – at present Coast to Cactus in Southern California in honor of the 100 year anniversary Centennial Celebration.  More praiseworthy exhibits currently featured include: Birds of the World, Skulls, Walking With Dinosaurs, Ocean Oasis, and Tiny Giants.

While you are at the San Diego Natural History Museum, stop and admire the spectacular tree outside the museum’s north entrance.  It’s the iconic Moreton Bay Fig Tree, which—like most of the other large trees in the Prado area of Balboa Park—was planted in preparation for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.  Since it was a few years old when it was planted in 1914, its age should probably be computed from about 1910, making this majestic tree more than 100 years old today.

For more information and program times and dates visit: BalboaPark.org

Interested in properties near the prestigious Balboa Park?  We encourage you to contact us right away.  Either use the form to the right give us a call. We are here to provide you the very best service in San Diego real estate.

The Latest Headlines

Park Row San Diego Market Updates

Park Row – Market Updates Park Row, located at 701 Kettner Boulevard, is a 3-story, 220-unit development located in the beautiful Marina District. The complex offers six different models: the Balboa, Cabrillo,......

read more

6 Ways to Increase the Resale Value of Your Condo

For those who are looking for modern features and amenities but don’t want to spend a lot of money on their new home purchase, condos offer an excellent alternative to single-family homes.......

read more

Interior Improvements for your Downtown San Diego Condo

These days it is simply not enough to just throw your Downtown San Diego Condo onto the local real estate market and hope for the best. Agreed, sometimes this does work, but......

read more

Watermark San Diego Market Updates

Watermark – Market Updates Influenced heavily by European architecture, The Watermark is located at 650 Columbia Street in the Marina District. It features a variety of residences and amenities as well as......

read more

Buying a San Diego Condo? The time is now!

For those who want to purchase their own San Diego condos, either as their residence or as a means to create income, things are getting brighter these days. For one thing, mortgage rates......

read more

Doma San Diego Market Updates

Doma – Market Updates Doma consists of two distinct buildings in historic Little Italy, and is bounded by Kettner Boulevard and Fir, Date and California streets. The architecture, as seen in the......

read more

5 Telltale Signs of a Bad Townhouse 

Even brand-new homes aren’t always flawless. You may discover small issues while the house is still under construction or after you’ve moved in, like paint stains where they shouldn’t or uneven tile......

read more

Benefits of a Downtown San Diego Condo

“The prices of Downtown San Diego condos are going up in some areas and down in other areas, but one thing is for sure, condos are here to stay! Condo living looks......

read more

Condo Living for Families With Kids: What You Need to Know

As young parents, you want to provide your little ones with the best conditions to grow and thrive in. Although a suburban lifestyle in a large family home with ample outdoor space......

read more

Downtown San Diego May 2014 Events

Barrio Logan Grand Prix Health Fair May 3 This health fair offers FREE screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes; plus vision, dental, and pregnancy testing. There’s music, refreshments, a jumper for......

read more

Get Listings and Articles Delivered Straight to your inbox

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.