Another stunning sunset in San Diego this evening.
I was walking downtown, along the Embarcadero, when the sun descended into storm clouds beyond Point Loma. The clouds had turned golden near the horizon.
I took these photographs with several tall ships of the Maritime Museum of San Diego in the foreground.
I never tire of cool sights like this!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
World events are showing us once again that war is hell. And that freedom is precious.
Earlier this year, I took these photographs in Solana Beach of the war memorial at the corner of Highway 101 and Plaza Street/Lomas Santa Fe Drive. Plaques honor local residents who fought in World War II and the Vietnam War.
I performed a search to learn more about this memorial, but a Waymarking link to an old North County Times article concerning its creation is broken. Apparently the memorial was dedicated on March 26, 2009.
Beneath the plaques are the bold words FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
How would you illustrate your own memories?
An exhibition of art at the Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego’s Balboa Park features the “memories” of graphic designer Shuichi Hashimoto.
Should you walk into the garden’s Exhibit Hall, you’ll discover flowers and mountains and clouds and cities, composed quilt-like from many bright fragments. The exhibit is titled Moisture and Light–Landscape in the Memory.
The inspired creator of this unique beauty, Shuichi Hashimoto, is based in Osaka, Japan. According to the JFG website: Hashimoto believes that the persistent rain combined with the humid environment influenced the diverse culture of Japan.
One can see how streaks of light and drops of water in his artwork seem to shimmer and bubble throughout the bright memories.
As I looked upon these abstract landscapes, it seemed I was peering through windows spattered with sunlit raindrops.
You can experience these fantastic memories, too, at the Japanese Friendship Garden through May 7, 2022.
Enjoy a few examples…
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
World events lately have been very depressing. Perhaps it’s good, at least for a few moments, to remember that life can also be fun, interesting, and optimistic.
Five years ago my walks around San Diego resulted in hundreds of lively photographs.
Back in March of 2117 there was a hike to the top of Cowles Mountain, several fascinating museum visits, more discoveries of cool street art, and good times at the International Mariachi Festival and the World Baseball Classic!
Cool San Diego Sights also went behind the scenes at several city landmarks during the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s annual OPEN HOUSE event.
Click the following links to see lots of photographs!
Views of San Diego from a hike up Cowles Mountain.
Photos of Donal Hord’s iconic sculpture Aztec.
Photos of aircraft restoration aboard USS Midway.
San Diego Air and Space Museum’s PT-22 hits the road!
Two observation windows high above San Diego!
Print Culture exhibit at San Diego Central Library.
Colorful (and funny) street art in Pacific Beach!
Cool street art in a Mission Beach alley!
Dance, music, fun at International Mariachi Festival!
Fun pics from World Baseball Classic in San Diego!
Photos behind the scenes at Copley Symphony Hall!
Art and history at the SDSU Downtown Gallery.
Colorful stained glass windows of The Abbey.
Elegant interior of the historic U.S. Grant Hotel.
Red Bull Air Race plane flies above San Diego!
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This blog now features thousands of photos around San Diego! Are you curious? There’s lots of cool stuff to check out!
Here’s the Cool San Diego Sights main page, where you can read the most current blog posts. If you’re using a phone or small mobile device, click those three parallel lines up at the top–that opens up my website’s sidebar, where you’ll see the most popular posts, a search box, and more!
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During my walk down Reo Drive in Paradise Hills last weekend I came upon three large, very beautiful murals. I snapped photos, of course!
I’ve since learned of Project Reo, an organization of active neighborhood families who have worked to improve and beautify the small business district along Reo Drive. Their work has included the painting of murals!
To the eyes of a curious guy walking through the community, those positive efforts are clearly successful!
You can learn more about Project Reo and the history of Paradise Hills by reading a great article here.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Do you want to see an incredible, important part of San Diego history? Then head over to the National City Depot Museum, which is operated by the San Diego Electric Railway Association. Last year they obtained the three only remaining streetcars that operated in the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park!
As you step into the depot museum, you’ll see a sign that describes the history of these historic cars. To summarize:
In 1910 the Class 1 streetcars were designed in San Diego and ordered from the St. Louis Car Company. Twenty four cars were built, and they began operations in San Diego in 1912. These cars would operate on various streetcar lines until 1939.
In 1939, a couple residing in El Cajon bought three streetcars that weren’t scrapped; in 1996 they were acquired by a local antique dealer and moved to storage on Adams Avenue; and in 1997 the cars were designated San Diego Historical Landmark #339.
Between 1997 and 2013 extensive restoration work was performed on car 138 by San Diego Historic Streetcars, as you can see in my photographs. There had been a plan to operate the cars during Balboa Park’s 2015 Exposition Centennial.
Finally, in 2021, the three historic streetcars were donated to the San Diego Electric Railway Association in National City, where the public, on open weekends, can freely observe them up close!
The plan now is to obtain wheels for car 138, and to fully restore the car so that it will endure for future generations.
Anyone who is intrigued by San Diego’s history, and what life might have been like around the time of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, must see these three original streetcars!
With a little imagination, one can picture the colorful cars running up rails that once existed near today’s Park Boulevard, transporting crowds of excited visitors to the exposition grounds!
The book Rails of the Silver Gate by San Diego railroad historian Richard V. Dodge provides a description of cars 125-148.
At the other end of the National City Depot Museum’s large outdoor yard stand the two unrestored streetcars, numbers 126 and 128.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
A new exhibit opens in March at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. It’s titled To Advance the Status of Women in Law and Society: Lawyers Club of San Diego at 50 Years.
Yesterday, during a visit to the History Center, I enjoyed a preview of the exhibit, which then was almost complete.
Displays filled with photographs and detailed descriptions explain how over the years women have fought for equal rights and opportunity in California, and San Diego in particular.
I learned how Clara Shortridge Foltz, the first woman to pass the California bar in 1883, helped lead the fight for the women’s right to vote in California.
I learned how gender bias in the San Diego legal community, right up into the 1970s, made it hard for women attorneys to gain employment.
I also learned how one woman achieved unique success. Madge Bradley, who was appointed to the San Diego Municipal Court bench in 1953, was the first woman to serve on a judicial bench in San Diego County.
When Madge Bradley retired, there again were no women on the bench, and only 24 women practicing law in all of San Diego County. So six female lawyers, who sought to challenge gender bias in their profession and elevate the status of women, started the Lawyers Club in 1972.
Over the decades, the Lawyers Club of San Diego has helped to greatly advance the cause of women, and equal rights, not only in the legal profession, but throughout society.
But there is still work to do. For several decades women have graduated from law school at the same rate as men, but they still make up a minority of judges.
One display explains how to make change happen: by voting, advocacy, speaking out, raising awareness, leadership, finding allies, and giving back.
In 2022, the Lawyers Club is celebrating their 50th Anniversary!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
It’s late February. Many cherry blossoms have already opened in Balboa Park’s beautiful Japanese Friendship Garden!
I walked in the Lower Garden today. I moved slowly down the path that wanders through the grove of Japanese cherry trees, and it was like a dream.
Many souls were wandering among the new blossoms, drinking in nature’s beauty.
JFG’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival is just a couple weekends away, from March 11th to 13th.
Spring with its promise of renewal must be approaching!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is being widely condemned by civilized, peace-loving people around the world.
Today a rally was held in San Diego’s Balboa Park, before the El Cid statue, in support of Ukraine.
Flags waved and urgent words were spoken, including Stop the War and Help Ukraine. Signs were held high for eyes and cameras to see.
As a surprise beginning to the 2 o’clock Spreckels Organ concert, Ukraine’s national anthem was played. Much applause could be heard from the audience.
At the House of Ukraine among the International Cottages, additional words of support were spoken by concerned visitors.
May this war end very soon.
And may Humanity prevail.
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
One of San Diego’s most amazing museums is little known to the public. But if you are interested in our city’s history, it’s a place you absolutely must visit!
The San Diego Electric Railway Association’s historic National City Depot museum is positively jam packed with fascinating exhibits. I last visited the old train depot six years ago, and I posted this blog with lots of photos and interesting information. On a whim I swung by the museum yesterday–and was wowed once again!
Display cases are filled with artifacts and ephemera from a century ago when a growing San Diego was crisscrossed with streetcars. And, of course, there are the many outdoor exhibits, including old trolleys, streetcars and railway equipment.
As I entered the depot, my eyes immediately fixed upon something astonishing. A sign described how three of San Diego’s original streetcars were added to the museum last year! I’ll be blogging about that shortly!
If you have kids and need something to do on a weekend, they’ll love the museum. I bet you will, too! And it’s free!
Take a look at just a tiny bit of the San Diego history you’ll see…
There are important out of print reference books available at the museum, too, including one titled Rails of the Silver Gate that I purchased. Published in 1960, it provides a complete detailed history of entrepreneur John D. Spreckels and his creation of the San Diego Electric Railway. The incredible book includes many photos, plus descriptions of every car that ever operated, and route maps that became increasingly extensive over the years!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Cool San Diego Sights! 