The Hall of Nations building at Balboa Park’s International Cottages is in the process of being restored. The City of San Diego has repaired much of the water-damaged exterior of the historical building, and some painting is underway.
Last year I noted how sections of stucco had fallen off. I later learned that–thank goodness–the damage wasn’t as severe as it might have been.
The Hall of Nations building was constructed for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Back then it was the Kansas State building and housed exhibits and events representing the state of Kansas.
It’s good to see the city taking care of San Diego’s crown jewel Balboa Park. It appears to me more work in various places around the park needs to be done!
Thank you!
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Volunteer members of the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County were working in Balboa Park’s Founder’s Plaza this morning, removing old overgrown vegetation so that new, beautiful plants can be introduced.
For many years they’ve maintained this small garden that surrounds statues of Balboa Park’s founders. Their efforts are part of Balboa Park’s Adopt-a-Plot program.
I learned the new plants will require less water than most, and will attract pollinators such as butterflies.
I can’t wait to see the finished garden!
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Most visitors to Balboa Park never see this historical building. It’s situated in the southwest corner of the park, in an area called Marston Point. People who drive to the south end of Balboa Drive will see the building sitting alone behind a fence.
There’s a reason the Fire Alarm Building sits safely in isolation on a bluff overlooking downtown. When it operated between 1928 and 1970, it was the hub where signals telegraphed from the city’s many fire boxes were received, and communications made to appropriate fire stations.
The Fire Alarm Building was built in 1927. It was designed in the Spanish Colonial style by architect Robert Snyder. Snyder often collaborated with his partner William Templeton Johnson, who a year earlier designed the San Diego Fine Arts Museum, near the center of Balboa Park.
In 1928, to equip the Fire Alarm Building, the City of San Diego purchased over $20,000 worth of fire alarm communications equipment from the Gamewell Company of Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts… There were three rows of tape-punching telegraph registers arranged on marble-topped tables. They were linked to the city’s fire alarm and police alarm boxes… A coded signal locating the particular alarm box was punched onto the register’s tape readout. The operator then read the coded message and set up the location of the alarm box on a master transmitter and sent a signal to all of the fire department’s fire engine stations throughout the city, ringing bells and turning on station lights. When selective transmissions were later installed, only those stations within the area of the fire would receive the alarm. This was affectionately known as the “silent night” program by grateful firefighters.
Today, the Fire Alarm Building is home to San Diego’s Park & Recreation Department Administrative Services section. Peer through the fence and you’ll see the handsome Spanish Colonial inspired entrance and a beautiful little garden area.
I took these photographs during many walks through Marston Point. They’ve been sitting in a computer folder. Time to share them!
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Tomorrow, Wednesday July 22, at 10:30 am, the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park will be hosting a special panel.
Cover Story: Six Decades of Comic-Con will feature a behind the scenes look at Comic-Con’s souvenir book covers. Many of those covers are now on display at the museum.
Gary Sassaman, Comic-Con’s former Director of Programming and Publications, will discuss this fascinating history and answer questions from the audience.
If you’re looking for something to do prior to Comic-Con Preview Night, this might be the perfect activity!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
Attending Comic-Con 2026 in San Diego? Got some extra time? You might want to head up to Balboa Park, where the Comic-Con Museum now features a number of cool exhibits, including a big one all about Doctor Who.
The Comic-Con Museum’s newest exhibit showcases the art of Charles Addams, who is best known for his popular creation The Addams Family. It’s titled Chas Addams: Family and Friends.
You’ll see a huge selection of his artwork. His wry, dark, humorous images might bring back memories of the Addams Family television show or the movie.
A variety of other subjects in his art might give you a chuckle, too!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
The San Diego History Center in Balboa Park is where visitors can now experience a very special exhibition. The incredibly rich and diverse history of our city is recalled on the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
America at 250: San Diego 1776 – 2026 features a wide range of historical artifacts, from San Diego’s earliest days to the present.
Even as a long-time resident, it’s still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that San Diego was once part of Spain, half a world away. California’s first Spanish mission was established here in 1769, seven years before the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.
For thousands of years, before the arrival of Europeans in the 18th century, the San Diego region was home to the native Kumeyaay people. It was a wild, mostly unmapped place distant from “civilization” and relatively unknown to the rest of the world. How times have changed!
Here are a few of the artifacts on display. My captions include some of the information presented for each object…
George Marston’s armario, dated from the 17th century. The antique wardrobe, from Burgos, Spain features a santos statue and is reminiscent of Spain’s religious life. George Marston, often called San Diego’s First Citizen, was a founder of Balboa Park.El Jupiter, a Spanish Presidio cannon. Cast in Manila in 1783. After the Mexican-American War, where it was reportedly used, it was placed in Old Town as a monument. The cannon would be accidently blown up by people celebrating a wedding.Chief Iodine’s jacket. A Native American born on a New York Iroquois Reservation, he explored much of the West with John C. Fremont and enlisted in the Mexican-American War as an army scout. He participated in the capture of San Diego.The Machado Quilt, circa 1850. One of the oldest known quilts in San Diego history. It was created by Doña Juana de Dios Machado Alipas Wrightington.Old Town survey map, 1854. Shows what is now Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Many of the buildings on this survey are now gone.Washington hand printing press, circa 1880s. The San Diego Union used the Washington press, printing its first edition with it in 1868.Concord 12-passenger stagecoach. This stagecoach, numbered 158, began to be used for passenger travel in 1886 between San Diego City to Julian, El Cajon, Lakeside, and the Stonewall Mines.Guest register for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. The huge book was created in 1911.Model T touring car, circa 1921. This car was owned by prominent San Diegan philanthropist and athlete Florence Chambers Newkirk, who competed in the 1924 Paris Olympics.Mission Beach changing room, 1925. It was first built for the Mission Beach Plunge in Belmont Park.Civil Service helmet, circa 1940s. Used by an Air Raid Warden belonging to the Civil Defense Force during World War II.Model of tuna clipper Triunfo, circa 1940. Created by Joao G. Rebelo, a crew member.Model of San Diego Stadium, 1960s. This model was built by Gary Allen as an initial rendering for the public.Republican National Convention doll, 1996. A novelty doll with the interchangeable heads of Bill Clinton and Bob Dole. San Diego was host to the national convention.
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The America 250 exhibition at the San Diego History Center includes this cool display. It’s labeled San Diego Comic-Con Program (1970), Issue #1: Comic-Con Origins.
Under glass is what is described as an itinerary and artwork from comic artists supporting the inaugural San Diego Comic Convention, organized by Shel Dorf... The pages are all from the San Diego History Center’s Shel Dorf Collection.
Sheldon “Shel” Dorf was a founder of San Diego Comic-Con. That first con was called San Diego Golden State Comic-Con, and was held in downtown’s historic U. S. Grant Hotel in 1970. To learn more about the history of Comic-Con, click here.
Over half a century later, Comic-Con 2026 is a little over a week away! As a long-time downtown San Diego resident, I’ll be walking around the event again, photographing offsite activations, cosplay, and whatever catches my fancy.
Stay tuned!
The following two pages are from San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Minicon, the one day event in March 21, 1970 that preceded the three day San Diego Golden State Comic-Con held later that same year, on August 1–3, 1970.
Both events were at the U. S. Grant.
Admission $2 for all day! Old science fiction pulps! Original silent film Lost World! Flash Gordon serial! In person Forrest J. Ackerman!
And here’s from the later, three day San Diego Golden State Comic-Con:
Jack Kirby! Dealers tables! Displays of original art and fan art! Appearing in person A. E. van Vogt and Earl Kemp! Chalk talk by Bob Stevens! $3.50 for 3 days!
Jack Kirby art on wrap-around cover of what is essentially the first Comic-Con souvenir book.
A few hundred copies of the program book from the 1970 San Diego Golden State Comic-Con were printed, and only a few dozen of them are believed to still exist.
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
The San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park now has a cool exhibit called Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea. Trash collected from beaches has been creatively converted into sculptures representing healthy marine life!
Plastic bags, bottle caps, toothbrushes, fishing line and all sorts of undegradable garbage harm life in the ocean. Everything from plankton to fish to whales can be adversely affected.
This exhibition of art, created by Washed Ashore, an organization based in Oregon, seeks to raise awareness of the problem. Volunteers have created these sculptures from plastic litter collected on the Oregon Coast.
The San Diego Natural History Museum has pieced together an immersive experience that wows visitors. Today I walked through an underwater scene filled with jellyfish, anemones, colorful fish, crabs and other fantastic representations of nature’s living wonders.
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If you love art that portrays coastal California landscapes and wildlife, you’ll love a free exhibition now showing in Balboa Park’s always wonderful Spanish Village Art Center. Simply step into Gallery 21!
The exhibition is titled Where the Sea Meets the Sky.
Three artists have beautiful pieces on display. I forgot to ask, but it appeared most or all of the art is available for purchase.
Ira Cosmos is Ukrainian born. She has contributed to the Art for Ukraine initiative. I noticed today that at least one of her beautiful paintings is dedicated to Ukraine.
During my visit, I was personally drawn to the ceramics created by Elena Miller. They’re organic, complex, full of life.
Approach Gallery 21 and you’ll notice a huge butterfly outside!
Friendly local artist Karen Haub was present and working on a canvas when I poked my head into the gallery. Her paintings are full of life, too, and bright California sunshine!
She described her plein air coastal landscapes as in the style of California Impressionism.
Make sure to visit Balboa Park’s Spanish Village Art Center this week. The exhibition ends soon.
Where the Sea Meets the Sky continues in Gallery 21 through July 13, 2026.
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