I found two new murals in El Cajon’s very cool Arts Alley!
The Arts Alley is located in downtown El Cajon north of Main Street, between Magnolia Avenue and Sulzfeld Way. I visited the colorful alley in 2020 and 2022. See those photographs here and here.
Look what I discovered during yesterday’s walk!
ART HEALS
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Whenever I walk through downtown El Cajon, I make sure to pass by the Unarius Academy of Science. I peer through the front windows, wondering what weird new thing I might see.
Yesterday, I did find something new.
Yes, there were still displays concerning lost Atlantis, the future arrival of the Space Brothers, a Map of the Interplanetary Confederation, and students engaging in psychodrama as they reenact past-life experiences. But, lo and behold, there’s now a display that celebrates Nikola Tesla!
It’s titled The Unobstructed Universe of Nikola Tesla.
Taking photos through the windows of the building is very difficult due to strong reflections from the street. But here we go.
One sign calls Nikola Tesla a cosmic visionary and a dweller on two planets, and “If you wish to find the secrets of the universe, think of energy, frequency and vibration.”
This display seems apropos, as their website states how Unarius offers “…a course in self-mastery, based on the interdimensional understanding of energy–the joining of science and spirit.“
I don’t get the dweller on two planets, however. Tesla actually journeyed to Mars?
One of the Unarius webpages explains how Tesla thought we could communicate with beings from other planets. In 1899, he believed he had received a message likely from Mars.
Yesterday I also noticed the parking lot near the Unarius Academy of Science has a new mural. Here it is:
Have you seen their cool flying saucer car? I spotted it once during a walk through Coronado.
Just for fun, here it is again!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
This big mural in El Cajon might be a bit faded, but it’s still awesome. Today’s Children Rise is the message spray painted on the east-facing exterior of Collision Masters Auto Body Shop!
The distinctive artwork was completed years ago by graffiti artists DyseOne, Hasler, Brave and Shark. I’m not sure exactly when.
I got a glimpse of the mural today for the first time. I was walking down West Main Street. A friendly guy at the body shop guided me through the busy facility so I could get unobstructed photographs. Thanks!
By the way, I found other cool murals during my walk in El Cajon, so stay tuned for more!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
A new line of the San Diego Trolley is set to open tomorrow–Sunday, September 29th!
The Copper Line will run from the El Cajon Transit Center to the Santee Town Center trolley station, taking over a short stretch of the present Green Line. The change is being made by MTS to provide better, more reliable service.
I happened to be walking through downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp trolley station this morning when I spied these workers replacing some signs. The old signs on this side of the tracks indicated To Santee. The new signs tell passengers the Green Line will now end at El Cajon!
A big smile appeared for my camera! The San Diego Trolley is number one!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Should you walk through the park-like space just outside the New Roots Fresh Farm Community Garden in El Cajon, you might spy several instances of weathered art.
Post-like structures overlooking El Cajon and distant mountains in East County contain messages of welcome and belonging. Most of the nearby garden plots are tended by refugees. Many of these refugees are Iraqis who’ve fled persecution. By selling fresh vegetables at local farmers markets, a little extra income might be obtained.
The park-like space where this art is painted was empty when I walked down its overgrown path a couple days ago. I saw places to sit. It would be a good place to find quiet and fresh air.
The land occupied by the New Roots Fresh Farm Community Garden was provided by Kaiser Permanente a little over ten years ago. The project was completed in partnership with El Cajon’s local International Rescue Committee.
Leaves and Fruit.Home is anywhere or any place you feel safe.I am from: the past and the future where the present lasts forever.Be yourself.Environment. What have you been through?Roots.Welcome.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
A disassembled 1927 Boeing FB-5 ended up as a box of parts. Almost one hundred years later, volunteer aviation enthusiasts in San Diego opened the box, then got to work in machine shops to recreate the very rare aircraft.
The reassembled FB-5 made its debut in 2022!
I saw this historical fighter in all its restored glory during my recent visit to Aerofest at the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s Gillespie Field Annex in El Cajon.
I was told that eventually this FB-5 will be exhibited at the world-famous museum in Balboa Park. A sign explained it’s one of about a dozen airplanes “built from scratch” in the museum’s extensive collection.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
There’s an extraordinary museum in El Cajon dedicated to one of the world’s finest artists depicting the American West. Olaf Wieghorst is that artist.
Olaf Wieghorst lived for many years in El Cajon. He has been called the Dean of contemporary Western artists. His depiction of the Old West–of cowboys, horses, Native Americans and vast landscapes–has been compared favorably with the work of Frederick Remington and Charles Russell.
A few weekends ago I visited the free museum. Wandering about the main gallery, I fell in love with the very fine paintings on display. They accurately portray horses and the Southwest because he knew them well.
Olaf’s life story is astonishing. He was born in Denmark. He worked in a circus, later on a farm, then moved to America knowing only three words in English. He was assigned to the 5th Cavalry patrolling the United States–Mexico border, worked as a ranch hand, joined the New York City Police Department in the Horse Mounted Division patrolling Central Park, and gradually grew in fame as an artist.
I marveled at Olaf’s prolific artwork that was used for advertisements, calendars and for the covers of Louis L’Amour novels. I enjoyed viewing artifacts from his life, such as saddles, awards, and memorabilia from the time he worked with John Wayne in Hollywood movies.
I then ventured outside to explore the actual home where Olaf Wieghorst lived, relocated to a spot near the museum’s main building. Docents are happy to open up the small rustic house and provide a tour of the rooms. One can see the window that provided natural light as Olaf painted. That same sunshine fills many of his Western landscapes.
There’s also an extraordinary cactus and succulent garden between the museum building and Olaf’s old home. The beautiful garden is open freely to the public. I blogged about the Southwest Cactus and Succulent Garden a while back here.
I urge anyone in San Diego to visit this wonderful museum. Especially if you like very fine art and the Old West! They’re always looking for volunteers, too!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Visitors to the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s Gillespie Field Annex in El Cajon yesterday were in for an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind treat!
An amazing, full-size replica of the Wright Flyer, invented and flown by Orville And Wilbur Wright in 1903, was on view as it is being restored. The famous Wright Flyer, (also known as the Kitty Hawk, Flyer I, or the 1903 Flyer) was the world’s first successfully powered and controlled aircraft.
The careful restoration has been ongoing inside one of the hangars at the Gillespie Field Annex. Right now the aircraft’s fragile wooden framework is laid bare, as the outer fabric has yet to be replaced.
A sign by the aircraft details its history, dimensions and construction. This particular Wright Flyer reproduction was obtained from Valentine Aero in 1979. When various repairs are completed, it will be proudly displayed at the Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park.
To read the sign, enlarge my photograph.
I took these photos of the Wright Flyer replica during my visit to Aerofest yesterday. The annual event allowed visitors to peer into this hangar, plus purchase all sorts of aviation collectibles in support of the museum.
I first visited the Gillespie Field Annex in early 2019 and blogged about what I saw. See that post here. (Please note that entry is no longer free–it’s $7, but well worth it!)
The first powered, controlled, sustained airplane flight in history. Orville Wright, age 32, is at the controls of the machine, lying prone on the lower wing with hips in the cradle which operated the wing-warping mechanism. His brother, Wilbur Wright, age 36, ran alongside to help balance the machine, having just released his hold on the forward upright of the right wing. The starting rail, the wing-rest, a coil box, and other items needed for flight preparation are visible behind the machine. Public domain image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
There’s a special garden filled with rare and beautiful plants in downtown El Cajon. The Southwest Cactus and Succulent Garden is open free to the public at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum.
This very fine garden stretches between the museum’s main building and the old, relocated house of Olaf Wieghorst, a renowned artist who lived in El Cajon. (His paintings depicting the Old West are celebrated inside the museum.)
Over 200 species of desert plants–some of them quite rare–can be enjoyed by those who wander about the garden. The amazing garden is curated by Mike Bostwick, former horticultural director of the San Diego Zoo.
There are shady places in the garden where you can relax or perhaps have a picnic. There are sculptures, too, including an exceptional one by James Hubbell. A plant sale containing rare specimens is also open to the public. Proceeds support the museum.
What’s more, the garden space can be rented for special events such as private parties or weddings.
The Southwest Cactus and Succulent Garden is accessible to visitors when the Olaf Wieghorst Museum is open. See the location, days and hours here.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
How much do you know about the history of El Cajon?
Step into the Knox House Museum and you’ll be transported back in time. You’ll experience what life was like for El Cajon’s first settlers and its early residents.
You’ll learn how, in 1876, Amaziah Knox built a residence and hotel in the seeming middle of nowhere. Rising two stories tall, boasting seven rooms, it was the first commercial structure in El Cajon.
You’ll walk through the parlor, kitchen, living room, sewing room, and bedrooms, furnished as they might have been from 1895 to 1912. You’ll see original objects that were owned by the Knox family, plus many old photographs of El Cajon taken during its early years..
The El Cajon Historical Society operates the free Knox House Museum and welcomes visitors with a great tour of the old house. Check out their website for the location, open days and hours.
My own visit last Saturday was an eye-opener. I peered at photos of a very early El Cajon, with its small handful of structures. I learned that the hotel was cleverly built in a popular camping place for teamsters, miners, and drovers traveling to the Julian gold mines after 1870.
I saw how the hotel and the young city expanded, and how agriculture played an important role in the growing prosperity. Grapes covered many acres in one old photo. They were dried and exported as raisins.
I learned how the home’s parlor served as El Cajon’s very first post office, with Mr. Knox the official Postmaster.
Did you know the United States Cavalry was once stationed in El Cajon, and that El Cajon and Lakeside boasted a stagecoach line?
No? You should visit the museum! Or check out their informative website by clicking here.
My tour guide Rick told me the historical society is looking for new volunteers. Do you live in El Cajon or East County? Would you like to help keep this important history alive? Contact the El Cajon Historical Society here.
Or consider a donation. Worthy organizations like this are struggling, especially after the disruptions caused by COVID.
One last thing. The El Cajon Historical Society is eager to teach young people about the fascinating history of this city they call home. They are offering a slide show for local classrooms! Do you know any teachers? Pass the word!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Cool San Diego Sights! 