Two remarkable and historically important sculptures were moved recently from Presidio Hill to the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park.
When I visited the History Center today I was surprised to see the two large Arthur Putnam works, because I’d observed them several times in the past during walks through Presidio Park.
An explanation on the gallery wall explains that The Indian (1904) and The Padre (1908) were moved to protect them from the outdoor elements and vandalism. I learned they will be gallery centerpieces as this section of the San Diego History Center receives additional material. Critical context will be provided for these bronze statues.
If you’d like to see photos of the two sculptures when they stood on Presidio Hill, check out past blog posts here and here.
The first link will take you on a walk from Old Town up to the Serra Museum–a walk I made years ago when Cool San Diego Sights was just getting started.
The second link concerns an Arthur Putnam exhibition at the San Diego Museum of Art. You’ll learn that he was internationally renowned, particularly for his sculptures depicting animals. And he also had an interesting San Diego connection!
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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!
It’s Halloween! Look at all these great Halloween costumes! I saw them today during a short walk near downtown San Diego.
Yes, almost all of these photographs were taken in Balboa Park. I spent several hours there, just meandering about, enjoying an orchid show, meeting friends, stepping into a museum, listening to street musicians and an amazing organ concert. In other words, simply enjoying the sights and sounds of San Diego’s most wonderful park.
The last photo with the two guys in costume was taken as I walked through Bankers Hill. If you recognize the street, you win a pretend candy corn. (Sorry, I already ate all the good stuff.)
Trick or treat!
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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!
The San Diego County Orchid Society had one of their flower shows in Balboa Park today. As I walked near the Casa del Prado, I noticed the Fall Show event sign, and my feet turned toward amazing natural beauty.
I love the many different gardening, art and craft shows that are held nearly every weekend in Balboa Park. But the Orchid Society‘s shows might be my favorite.
Want to know why?
Simply look at these photos from the 2021 “Orchids in the Park” Fall Show!
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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!
Several horrifying scenes were observed by those visiting Balboa Park this evening!
An enormous crowd eagerly watched as Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and Buster Keaton were frightened out of their wits by a series of absurdly hilarious incidents. All the while accompanied by music from the Spreckels Organ!
Yes, tonight was Halloween Silent Movie Night at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Organist Mark Herman provided musical notes of suspense and humor for three spooky silent films during this last performance of the 33rd San Diego International Organ Festival.
Mark Herman performs over 30 concerts and silent film presentations around the world every year. His international awards and accomplishments are numerous. This was his very first visit to the mighty Spreckels Organ, world’s largest musical instrument!
The organ added emotional flair to the nonstop slapstick action on the screen. Laughter erupted frequently!
How can you not laugh when Laurel & Hardy finally manage to break into a graveyard, then encounter a prankster in a ghostly sheet!
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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!
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, legendary author and creator of Sherlock Holmes, is in San Diego this Halloween weekend attempting to solve an ages old mystery.
Today I saw him at the Maritime Museum of San Diego examining clues concerning the mysterious disappearance of the ship Mary Celeste. Nobody knows what happened to the Mary Celeste back in 1872, when it was discovered adrift in the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores Islands without a soul aboard. And with nothing touched. Not even its cargo of alcohol in barrels.
Did evaporated alcohol create a flash explosion that left no discernable trace, but caused the captain and crew to desert ship? Did their lifeboat somehow end up lost at sea?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was examining charts and considering a strange variety of clues as I and some other Maritime Museum visitors looked on with bewilderment. I suggested a kidnapping by denizens of Atlantis. No better explanation seems to exist.
The celebrated author and novelist affirmed that he will be at the Maritime Museum of San Diego tomorrow–Halloween Sunday. Perhaps you can help him solve this intractable mystery!
Learn how the actual Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is connected with this mystery here!
Kids who are 12 and under are invited to write down their own theories. Winner of this contest gets four free tickets to an adventure aboard the historic tall ship Californian!
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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!
Dude Vader, Hawkeye and Captain America with actors from The Supernatural University, a television series now in development.
Fans of popular culture have converged today in Escondido for the first ever Fandom Invasion!
This big family-friendly event, which is being held at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, features lots of exhibitors, panelists, video gaming, storytelling, celebrities, cosplay, and even a play zone with Batman bounce houses for kids!
Fandom Invasion was conceived by the San Diego cosplay group Science Fiction Coalition, whose costumed members have become a common sight at events all around the city.
I arrived at Fandom Invasion as it opened, and I walked around the sizable exhibit hall where there were booths overflowing with awesome stuff. And awesome people, too!
For a while I listened to the Geek in the Streets Podcast panel, where there was a detailed discussion concerning cosplay.
Indeed, cosplay was everywhere I turned! As you can see from the upcoming photos.
Perhaps the coolest thing about Fandom Invasion was its focus on kids and their creativity. There were more than a few tables with young artists and makers and cosplayers!
Hopefully this is the beginning of a fun annual tradition.
Check it out!
Cosplayers wearing Mandalorian armor pose in front of the California Center for the Arts, Escondido Conference Center.Hulk welcomes visitors at the Science Fiction Coalition table. I think he just arrived from Planet Hulk.Oh, man! Look at all this super cool nerdy stuff!Many local Star Wars groups were present, including the 501st Legion.R2-D2 and friend were created by Droid Builders. Author Janet Racciato has written novels for different age groups. Her heroine Julie grew up in Oceanside and can teleport. She told me writing comes easily to her.Dr. Artemus Peepers and Wonder Woman pose for a cosplay photo.Look at all the cool pop culture patches at one vendor table. What’s Yoda doing over there on the right?And check this out! All these awesome creations are from the Gears & Roebuck Rusty Junk Emporium.Star Wars Corn Flakes and Godzilla!And here’s an angry Lord Vader himself! No, I didn’t call you corny or a flake! That box contains cereal!The happy Addams Family.Future artist Gavin Richter. Future? More like present!Young artist Zeke of Swirl Waffle at work.Lots of comic books, naturally. But it’s hard not to look at a phone.Whoa! Ultra-cool helmet by CostumeBiz!Now it looks like I’m in trouble!Ian and Arielle discuss cosplay in the Large Panel Room.Miss Ellie Honeybee posed for a cool cosplay photograph!David L. Drake and Katherine L. Morse, San Diego-based authors of The Adventures of Drake and McTrowell, read their book.Gamora and Star Lord are outside by a face painter!Cars from the animated movie Cars! They were brought to Fandom Invasion by Dr. Justin Wu, of the Healing Little Heroes Foundation.Cosplay everywhere!Even Hawkman showed up in Escondido, all the way from the planet Thanagar.It seems Wolverine was a bit late, however.
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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!
The HLH Foundation brings encouragement, happiness and hope to sick and disabled children, especially those with cancer. How? By helping kids play the role of superhero!
I met Dr. Justin Wu today. He’s co-founder of the HLH Foundation. We met at the Fandom Invasion event today in Escondido. He brought three cool cars along which kids love, including Lightning McQueen from the animated movie Cars!
Justin is an unselfish, enthusiastic guy who is changing people’s lives–and the world–for the better.
Early sunlight made a walk along San Diego’s Embarcadero very beautiful this morning.
I snapped these photos between the Grape Street Pier and Broadway Pier.
Gentle ripples moved across quiet San Diego Bay. Golden light reflected from buildings and homes across the water. Birds passed overhead. A ferry departed for Coronado.
Here’s what morning walkers and joggers might have experienced…
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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 almost Friday. That means it’s almost the weekend. Right?
Works for me.
So that we can all anticipate the weekend properly, I’ve curated an odd batch of amusing photos.
Taken during the past month or so. No particular order…
What label beverage is this?New superhero in town? Villain?Not much of an agenda.Discarding seven years bad luck.Biggest coupon ever.Truck successfully smashed through a brick wall, only to hit that pole.Guitarist crossing.Padres trying out a new outfielder.Now that’s genuinely scary!
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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! 