Victorians, suffragettes and steampunk in a park!

San Diego Costume Guild members help Balboa Park celebrate its centennial.
San Diego Costume Guild members help Balboa Park celebrate its centennial.

Today a really cool event was held in San Diego called the Balboa Park Centennial Informal Gathering. A bunch of history lovers, park supporters, assorted clubs and organizations (including the San Diego Costume Guild) gathered together in Balboa Park and everyone wore period attire. The idea was to recreate what Balboa Park might have looked like one hundred years ago, when the 1915 Panama-California Exposition opened.

During my walk through the park, I saw folks everywhere wearing fancy dresses and hats . . . carrying parasols . . . sporting old-fashioned police and military uniforms . . . wearing suffragette sashes or steampunk goggles . . . riding high-wheeled penny-farthing bicycles . . . and lots of puzzled tourists looking about in complete astonishment. It was great!

Balboa Park Centennial Celebration marks 100 years of a truly amazing place.
Balboa Park Centennial Celebration marks the 100 year anniversary of an amazing place.
Folks in old-fashioned dresses and nostalgic garb were walking up and down El Prado.
Folks in old-fashioned dresses and nostalgic garb were walking up and down El Prado.
This 19th century fashion predates 1915, the year of the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park,
This 19th century fashion predates 1915, the year of the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park,
Two elegant ladies paused to smile for my camera in the park's central plaza.
Two elegant ladies paused to smile for my camera in the park’s big central plaza.
Some people dressed for the occasion enjoying the warm San Diego sunshine.
Some people dressed for the occasion were enjoying the warm San Diego sunshine.
Lots of very fancy hats could be seen everywhere I turned.
Lots of very fancy hats could be seen everywhere I turned.
Many in historical costumes would reenact a political march in support of Votes For Women.
Later in the afternoon, folks wearing historical costumes would reenact a political march supporting Votes For Women.
Two suffragettes with Votes For Women sashes follow a guy dressed in World War I era military uniform.
Two suffragettes with Votes For Women sashes follow a guy dressed in World War I era military uniform.
Back in 1915, the right for women to vote was an important issue and movement.
Back in 1915, the right for women to vote was an important issue and movement.
A display in the Balboa Park Club building included Women's Rights memorabilia from a hundred years ago.
A display in the Balboa Park Club building included Women’s Rights memorabilia from a hundred years ago.
Some people had steampunk goggles in the International Cottages area, where event participants converged.
A few people sported steampunk goggles. Event participants converged on the International Cottages lawn area.
Visitors from Balboa Park's past seem to come to life before my very eyes.
Visitors from Balboa Park’s past seem to come to life before my very eyes.
A bustle of Victorian activity in front of the House of England cottage.
A bustle of Victorian activity in front of the House of England cottage.

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Published by

Unknown's avatar

Richard Schulte

Downtown San Diego has been my home for many years. My online activities reflect my love for writing, blogging, walking and photography.

2 thoughts on “Victorians, suffragettes and steampunk in a park!”

  1. Richard, it was so nice to meet you there on Sat, and I’m excited about reading more on your blog now. Thank you for this nice reference to our San Diego Costume Guild and our participation in the Centennial celebration.
    Val (in the green striped dress)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It was nice to meet you, too! Saturday was a lot of fun! It was interesting to see how visitors might’ve appeared in Balboa Park a century ago. If the costume guild has other interesting events open to the public, let me know, and I might go check it out! Thanks for leaving your comment! Richard

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.