An area beside a popular entrance to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, near the McCoy House Museum, will be the site of an historical reconstruction.
There are plans to bring more history to life in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park! A reconstruction of the Machado-Smith adobe and wood-framed house, including gardens and orchards, will greet future visitors to San Diego’s birthplace!
According to a sign that I read, after archaeological assessments (which appear to be underway right now), the Machado-Smith 1860s adobe casa and 1850s wood-framed house will be built near the main walkway that leads visitors from the Old Town Trolley Station into the California State Park. Also planned is a grapevine covered arbor and gardens and orchards with corn, grapes, figs, roses and fruit trees!
According to some research and a State Park employee that I spoke to, the house was built for American Albert Benjamin Smith and his Mexican wife María Guadalupe Yldefonsa Machado de Wilder who together raised nine children. The property remained with the family until 1929. Eventually the house fell into disrepair.
It is uncertain when the new construction will begin, but I’ll keep my eyes open!
Once completed, the Machado-Smith reconstruction will offer interpretive programs concerning Old Town San Diego’s unique mixture of Mexican Californio and American cultures! Very cool!
I was told by a California State Park employee that bits of pottery and other interesting objects have been found at this site.An historically accurate reconstruction of the mid 1800’s Machado-Smith property will be built in Old Town San Diego. Included will be an adobe casa, wood-framed house and gardens.
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An event in downtown San Diego called Towerthon raised money for Father Joe’s Villages Toussaint Academy, which educates and assists homeless youth.
We all have the opportunity to help homeless kids in San Diego ascend to new heights–even if you didn’t participate in today’s Towerthon, where generous neighbors raised money for Father Joe’s Villages Toussaint Academy by climbing the stairs of the 20-story tall 550 Corporate Center building in downtown San Diego.
During my absolutely incredible morning walk (stay tuned–you’ll see why), I paused for a couple minutes to absorb the humanity of the charitable event and snap some photos.
Would you like to help homeless kids in San Diego? I don’t need to tell you how horrible life on the street can be. Being homeless can be depressing, highly stressful, dangerous–eventually breaking both body and spirit. Many youth became homeless because of unspeakable physical abuse and emotional pain.
Toussaint Academy has been providing homeless youth with a high quality education and other services since 1992. Please click the link above to learn more, about how Toussaint Academy not only save lives, but enables young people to heal, flourish and finally experience true happiness. You might feel inspired to make a donation or provide help in your own special fashion!
(I challenge other bloggers reading this to find charities in your own neighborhood, and help them out! Your efforts add up and actually help!)
Participants in the charitable stair climb check the standings board in the plaza in front of 550 Corporate Center.
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ICSA Women’s Semifinals on San Diego Bay. Competing sailboats approach downtown’s Cruise Ship Terminal.
Check out these cool photos!
I was walking along the Embarcadero early this evening when I saw dozens of tiny sailboats out racing on silvery San Diego Bay. I noticed the sails featured the letters SDYC, which stands for San Diego Yacht Club.
When I got home, an internet search revealed that I had been observing the first day of ICSA Women’s Semifinals action. San Diego is the location of the 2016 College Sailing / Sperry Women’s Nationals. The 36 sailboats that I watched represent top universities from all around the United States, which are competing through Friday right here on our beautiful bay! Winner takes home the coveted Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association’s Gerald C. Miller Trophy!
Small sailboats float on rippled silver, beneath dramatic clouds.Shining sails dance in the wind, as paired sailors from 36 colleges around the country compete in the Women’s Nationals.A zoomed photo of the sailboats dancing across San Diego Bay.The San Diego Yacht Club sailboats approach the Embarcadero, having just passed the finish line.These sailors were among the leaders. The top 18 semifinalist teams will move on to the finals.A very cool sight during a random walk along the water before sunset!The leading sailboats approach San Diego’s Cruise Ship Terminal. Gleaming skyscrapers rise in the background.The leaders from this race appeared to line up in finishing order. Fascinated, I watched from the Broadway Pier.And then a few minutes later they were off again! A gull watches sails dip and tack in the sea breeze, like fluttering white wings.A team that competed in College Sailing’s ICSA Women’s Semifinals starts back across San Diego Bay before night falls.
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Visitors at the San Diego Zoo Centennial Festival in Balboa Park learn how rare, threatened and endangered native plants are being saved by the zoo.
Many know how the San Diego Zoo is a world leader in working to protect animal species from extinction. One important task is to store critical genetic material. Their world-renowned Frozen Zoo has been storing cryogenically preserved biological samples since 1976.
When I walked through the San Diego Zoo Centennial Festival in Balboa Park last Saturday, I learned something that really impressed me. Not only is the zoo striving to save the world’s most endangered wild animals, but San Diego Zoo Global has developed an important native plant seed bank, in an effort to conserve rare and threatened local plant species.
The zoo is member of the California Plant Rescue Partnership, whose goal is the long term conservation of wild plant species through seed banks and field work. One of the people with whom I briefly spoke has the job of hiking about San Diego County, searching for and monitoring populations of these rare plant species. What a fantastic job that must be!
The zoo has developed an extensive seed collection. Some native plants being protected are the San Diego golden star Bloomeria clevelandii, Dudleya brevifolia, Monardella stoneana, Comarostaphylis diversifolia ssp. diversifolia, and Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. linifolia, which is commonly called the Del Mar sand aster.
The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research is also working hard to save the Tecate Cypress in Southern California and Baja California, a tree that the rare Thorne’s hairstreak butterfly depends upon. A poster at the zoo’s centennial event helped to explain why this effort is so urgent.
San Diego Zoo Global’s Native Plant Seed Bank and horticulture departments have planted 500 Tecate Cypress trees to establish a field gene bank. (Click to enlarge.)The San Diego Zoo’s conservation efforts extend beyond protecting animal species threatened by extinction. Plants are important, too!
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You can go kayaking on a cool Eco Tour and try to spot green sea turtles in San Diego’s South Bay! Image courtesy of Ocean Connectors. Photograph by Harry Orgovan.
At last weekend’s Earth Day on the Bay, I learned about some awesome Eco Tours on San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Experienced guides take you by kayak around the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge to search for green sea turtles, or by bicycle around San Diego Bay to view all sorts of migratory birds, or by boat off our coast to spot gray whales and other marine life! These tours are provided by Ocean Connectors.
Why am I blogging about this? What makes these tours so amazingly cool? Ocean Connectors uses the money they make from their San Diego Eco Tours to directly benefit local students! Every year, Ocean Connectors introduces hundreds of kids in the National City School District to the beautiful natural world along San Diego’s coast, educating them about migratory wildlife and stewardship of the environment–all at no cost!
That’s right! Thousands of students in Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Grades have had an experience of a lifetime thanks to Ocean Connectors. In their formative years, these young people, many from low-income situations, have ventured out from the city and have experienced profound wonders they otherwise might have missed. They are taken on fun and inspiring educational field trips that are sometimes described as the best day of their lives!
Thanks to Ocean Connectors, local school students can learn about marine wildlife during a whale watching tour off the San Diego coast. Image courtesy of Ocean Connectors. Photograph by Ralph Pace.
Seeing green sea turtles, wild birds taking flight, and majestic gray whales out on the wide blue water deeply affects a young person’s view of the world, teaches one about the web of life, helps one to grow into a thoughtful, responsible adult. I know this is true. Because I had a similar experience when I was growing up.
Back in junior high school, I went on a sea adventure with some classmates along Alaska’s Inland Passage. I saw breaching humpback whales, bald eagles, even an orca. That memory is still vivid in my mind. That unforgettable experience broadened my horizons, made me appreciate the wonders of nature, gave me a sense of belonging to a larger world, a world that should be carefully preserved. I’ve been an avid hiker and lover of the outdoors during my adult life, and I have no doubt my own personal adventure those many years ago is one big reason why.
So . . . have you been considering having your own unforgettable adventure in ecotourism? Would you like to possibly spot one of the 60 green sea turtles that spend part of their lives feeding on eel grass in San Diego’s South Bay? Would you like to bike around the Bayshore Bikeway and see hundreds, even thousands of wild birds? (And some are quite rare!) Would you like to head out onto the ocean with trained, knowledgeable naturalists, and see gray whales, dolphins, and a huge variety of other sea mammals and coastal wildlife?
Ocean Connectors’ mission is to educate, inspire and connect people to the outdoors. And one of those people could be YOU!
Click here to have your own unique Eco Tour in San Diego. Book a tour, and you’ll benefit kids in San Diego’s South Bay! It’s a win-win!
Someone learns about the amazing Eco Tours and the educational programs provided by Ocean Connectors during Earth Bay on the Bay at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
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Performers in medieval chain mail and shining breastplate armor pose inside the main entrance of the San Diego Central Library downtown!
Check out a few pics of a certifiably cool event I witnessed at noon today! There was a pop-up performance of the St. Crispin’s Day speech from Shakespeare’s play Henry V! Complete with medieval costumes and shining armor!
The short performance honored the birthday (and death day) of Shakespeare, and was put on in the Central Library’s lobby as part of the San Diego Public Library’s First Folio multi-month extravaganza. Shakespeare’s rousing fictional speech by King Henry V–meant to inspire his English army in 1415 before the Battle of Agincourt, where he faced a vastly larger French army–was recited at several libraries around San Diego.
The enthusiastic performers were all great! And super friendly! I spoke to them and learned about their love for the Age of Chivalry. They make their own armor and other items associated with medieval life. They are deeply interested in the history of the Middle Ages and learning how to craft objects with historical authenticity. According to their website, Chivalry Today, they offer a variety of presentations, workshops and activities to introduce chivalry into your education, business and life. They provide quality historical interpretive programs for schools studying Medieval and Renaissance history. Click on the above link to check these guys out!
(If I may provide some constructive criticism of the library, which I otherwise love. I arrived early because I wasn’t sure where exactly in downtown’s large Central Library the performance would take place. I asked five different library employees. Not one of them knew. One severe lady at the reference desk after searching for about five minutes on her computer told me there was no such event. Ouch. Worse, it appeared I was the only person to intentionally show up for the performance. The others in the small audience arrived after an announcement over the library public address system. Isn’t a library essentially about maximizing communication? Hello! We live in the age of the internet! Okay, my rant is over. I love you guys.)
Reciting Shakespeare’s rousing speech by King Henry V, urging his English army to bravely fight the French at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.At the end of the short pop-up performance, banners are raised by the small troupe in the lobby of the San Diego Central Library.Henry V inspires his troops in the Age of Chivalry, while historical commentary is provided in a modern library. The performance was part of an ongoing summer-long First Folio celebration of Shakespeare.
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Do you like to read short pieces of thought-provoking fiction? You might enjoy checking out Short Stories by Richard.
Fascinating exhibits inside the Casa de Aguirre Museum in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.
Many visitors to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park might think the Casa de Aguirre is just a shop brimming with colorful crafts and wares. But a closer look reveals that a small museum is located inside.
Here are some photos which provide a glimpse of what you’ll discover should you step into the museum. Read the captions, and you’ll learn how Casa de Aguirre is one of the most important sites in Old Town, and how its occupants shaped San Diego’s early history.
Casa de Aguirre in Old Town was originally built around 1853. The adobe mansion was one of the first houses in San Diego, owned by Don Jose Antonio Aguirre, a prosperous merchant and rancher. The present building is a reproduction.Bronze bust of Don Jose Antonio Aguirre, near entrance to Casa de Aguirre. Born in Spain, he owned several ships and warehouses and imported goods from Peru and China to trade for cowhides and tallow.Don Jose Antonio Aguirre was known for his charity and funded many projects in early San Diego. He, his wife and children are considered to be one of our city’s founding families.Bust of Father Antonio Ubach, Last of the Padres, 1835-1907. Antonio Dominic Ubach ran St. Anthony’s Indian School on this site from 1886 to 1891.Plaque describes how Father Ubach advocated for California’s Native Americans and lobbied government to protect the Indians and their lands. He was loved by many. His last words were: “Have charity.”Casa de Aguirre in Old Town San Diego today contains a shop visited by many tourists and a small museum in back.One side of El Museo Casa de Aguirre. Excavated artifacts are on display, recalling what life was like here in the mid to late 19th century.Visitor to the small museum watches a video which includes information about archaeological discoveries, the history of the casa and the lives of those who were sheltered here.St. Anthony’s Indian School Artifacts Tell a Story. Many objects on display include porcelain cups, goblets, bottles, a saltshaker and beer mug.Sign describes additional historical finds, including buttons, toys, harmonicas, slate board and pencils, lice combs, toothbrush handles, shoe parts, medal rosary and religious medallions.Marbles, doll parts and tiny children’s tea sets, recovered from San Diego’s past.Dozens of buttons on display. They were fastened by living fingers, now long gone.Two old pipes.Numerous bottles and jars are exhibited in the Casa de Aguirre Museum. They were used for medicine, mustard, chemicals, perfume, whiskey, beer, sarsaparilla…People interested in collecting antique bottles would be mesmerized by the large assortment on display.Don Antonio and Rosario Aguirre in Old Town History. The museum is located in what was once the bedroom and servants quarters in the Casa de Aguirre. The present-day adobe is a reproduction.Don Antonio Aguirre, 1799-1860, was one of San Diego’s most important figures back when our burgeoning Southern California city was just a very, very small town.A model of how the Casa de Aguirre appeared a century and a half ago.
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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 fascinating photos for you to enjoy!
Use your words to speak in a kind way. Help others as you go throughout your day…
If you didn’t have a chance to visit the International Non-Profits Fair in Balboa Park today, here are some photos that might inspire you. I walked through and met many smiling people, all of whom are working unselfishly to make this world a better place.
The fair, put on by The Worldview Project, is all about people from different cultures coming together for mutual understanding, increased tolerance, education and peace. It’s about positive people working to create a better, more happy world. I just strolled through casually, talking to some exhibitors and learning a little, taking a picture here and there. Perhaps you’ll see something that makes you want to explore further. Click the photos to enlarge them, if you’d like to read a poster or bit of information!
People in San Diego’s Balboa Park have gathered to learn how to make the world a better place. Many non-profits were represented at an annual fair put on by The Worldview Project.Some of the values highlighted at the Kids For Peace table. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.Nice ladies from the United Nations Association of the USA, San Diego Chapter, smile for a roving blogger’s camera!A few musical instruments from around the world were on display at this table.The Center for World Music promotes awareness, skills and knowledge of the rich performing arts traditions of the world in San Diego area schools.The San Diego Asian Film Festival is coming up! It runs April 28 to May 5 at the UltraStar movie theater in Hazard Center.These friendly folks are representing the German American Societies, who host El Cajon’s authentic Oktoberfest!More nice people! These guys tried without success to get me to dance. Sorry! The Cabrillo International Folk Dancers meet at the Balboa Park Club.CRY America has a hopeful vision of the world, where all children, everywhere, have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and realize their dreams.Survivors of Torture International. Sometimes we might forget how horrible life for some in this world can be, and the unspeakable suffering they experience.One way to help Survivors of Torture International is to enroll in a free community program when you shop at Ralph’s. Please read this poster for more info.Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County needs you! Operation Bigs seeks civilian, retired and active military adult volunteers to serve military children.Map of San Diego County shows hundreds of children ready to be matched with caring adults. They need more “bigs”!Climate Kids educates youth about climate change through art, storytelling and science.The American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties was represented at the International Non-Profits Fair in Balboa Park.License to Freedom works to stop violence in refugee and immigrant communities in San Diego County.You are loved. Your are so strong. You are worthy. Life is beautiful!
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A challenge for every person, both young and old. It is very simply: Be kind! (Click this image to read the poster!)
Have you heard of the Great Kindness Challenge? I hadn’t, until today.
The Great Kindness Challenge is put on by Kids For Peace, and I learned about it while I walked this morning through the International Non-Profits Fair in Balboa Park. (I’ll blog a little about this inspiring event shortly.) I was really struck by a thoughtful Kids For Peace poster challenging school students to engage in acts of kindness.
What an excellent idea! It seems this reminder to be compassionate, helpful and polite might apply to people of all ages. Sometimes we adults, during our hectic, numbing day-to-day routines, might benefit from a little lesson about the importance of having a warm heart and positive outlook!
Here are just a few of the 50 challenges. These are appropriate for both young and old…
Kids play by fountain in San Diego’s crown jewel, Balboa Park, one of the world’s great cultural treasures.
Hey you guys! Please, please, please–can you all do a super easy favor? You know how awesome Balboa Park is? One of our local casinos (Harrah’s) is giving away $100,000 to non-profit organizations that make our community a better place. The Friends of Balboa Park–the organization that oversees the park’s improvements, coordinates volunteers, supports educational programs and historical preservation and other vital projects–needs our online votes!
All you have to do is visit this webpage, then scroll down to Friends of Balboa Park and cast a vote using your email! I just did it a couple minutes ago! I don’t know if Harrah’s will email you stuff, but under the law there should be a one click unsubscribe option should that happen. That’s all you gotta do! It would be really, really awesome to help out Balboa Park, which provides joy to millions of people!
Many of you know that Balboa Park needs additional funds very badly. So please share this info with other people who have a soft spot for Balboa Park! Let’s get his ball rolling. Let’s try to get thousands of votes!
Cool San Diego Sights! 