The public seldom gets to step into Balboa Park’s historic Pratt Loggia. The columned, balcony-like loggia is easily seen when gazing up from El Prado at the Casa del Prado. You can see it in my next photograph:
During a recent tour of Balboa Park conducted by the Committee of 100, an organization working to preserve Balboa Park’s historic architecture, gardens and public spaces, I was fortunate to step foot into the Pratt Loggia and discover something wonderful.
Before our special tour entered the loggia, we were shown a plaque. It lists the people instrumental in funding the loggia’s creation back in 1971, during the Casa del Prado’s reconstruction.
According to this San Diego History Center webpage: During the course of reconstruction it was discovered that the bond issue did not allow for an expenditure of $70,000 to rebuild the second-level fluted, striated columns with capitals of cupids and the ornate balustrade on the outside loggia of the south building. The Committee of 100 raised the needed money with $50,000 coming from Mrs. Jeannette Pratt, in whose honor the reconstructed gallery was named the “Jeannette Pratt Loggia.”
Our group observed how the plaque contains a Who’s Who of leading San Diego citizens back in 1970s, including the Copleys, Cushmans, Fletchers, Rohr, Ryans, Scripps, and many others. Bea Evenson led the creation of the loggia.
And now here is the beautiful loggia!
We were surprised to see numerous bells in the Pratt Loggia: a few along the balustrade and many others contained in large display cases at either end.
These bells were sent to San Diego from cities around the nation during our city’s bicentennial back in 1969! To mark the 200 year anniversary celebration, San Diego wrote to these cities asking for a donated bell.
What was received? There are fire bells, school bells, bells of all sizes and kinds!
This big one rang loudly and deeply!
Another wonderful surprise in San Diego’s ever-amazing Balboa Park!
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Richard. We’re headed to Balboa Park today 3/28 ,and thanks to you we’ll have more to do than visit the SD Art Museum and and dine at Panama 66. 🙂 I called the Museum of Us about the balcony that faces the West and they said we had to buy a ticket to get out their on the second floor. We’ll pass on that today. However your post above about the Pratt Loggia intrigued me. I’ve done several magic shows in the private room on second floor of the El Prado at the Casa del Prado on the South side overlooking the El Prado restaurant patio area. Is the Pratt Loggia open to the public?
Magically,
Dana Law
619-993-6388
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I believe the Pratt Loggia is ordinarily closed to the public. I had been invited to a special tour.
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Thanks Richard, I had a feeling that was the case. We’ll pop into the Balboa Parks Visitors Center and ask politely. Which is never a bad idea.
BTW: Have you been in the hallway in that heads to the bathrooms by Panama 66? There’s an exhibition of photographs by the SD Museum to view free of charge? The have a video room that tells the story of the photographer that’s on display.
Magically,
Dana
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Yes, I have blogged about many of those free exhibits over the years.
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