The restoration of Balboa Park’s monumental Botanical Building is proceeding right along. New wood is being used to beautifully recreate the historic structure!
When built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, the Botanical Building was one of the largest lath structures in the world. A century later, wood rot and termite damage had taken a severe toll. This project, supported by the National Park Service, State of California, City of San Diego, and Forever Balboa Park, includes the full restoration of the building to its original 1915 design, recreating the series of arched openings with Palladian windows and large doors, opening the inside space to the surrounding gardens as intended.
It will be fascinating to watch as new lath is applied to the large, supporting steel structure, which is also being renovated one section at a time.
Here’s another web page that describes the Botanical Building restoration and additional improvements, such as the reconstruction of a pergola that once stood on the west lawn near The San Diego Museum of Art.
UPDATE!
Here’s a photo showing great progress! I took this in January, 2024…
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There are plans to place a monument to William Heath Davis in downtown San Diego. I learned about the project today. Drawings and details from the proposal were on display at the Gaslamp Museum‘s booth at the Pacific Islander Festival!
The bust of William Heath Davis will be placed in Pantoja Park, downtown San Diego’s first city park, which he also created. The photo above shows how the sculpture will generally appear.
You can expand my images of the information signs to read details!
…Kanaka Davis grew fond of San Diego’s warm weather and envisioned a thriving seaport, commercial center, and residential community along the waterfront which he dubbed New Town San Diego. With other investors, Kanaka Davis bought 160 acres of waterfront land, laid out streets, created Pantoja Park…
Seventeen years later, Alonzo Horton added his subdivision to the east of New Town, which today is the Gaslamp Quarter. Both Kanaka Davis and Alonzo Horton were the pillars that created downtown San Diego…
Project is a pedestal monument with a plaque and head bust… Pantoja Park…was founded by William Heath Davis in 1850. The proposed monument describes the founding of Pantoja Park…
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James W. Robinson was hanged for stealing a rowboat from San Diego Bay. He was convicted of grand larceny. He was buried in San Diego’s Old Town, a short distance from where the hanging took place.
Perhaps you know James Robinson from his nickname, Yankee Jim. The hanging ground where he was executed in 1852 is now occupied by the Whaley House Museum. The historically important Whaley House lays claim to being the most haunted house in America. Some say Yankee Jim’s ghost can still be seen in and around the museum.
A plaque was placed on the south side of the Whaley House earlier this year. I took photographs of it a couple days ago. It describes the hanging of Yankee Jim, shortly before Mr. Whaley bought the old hanging ground to build his house.
The plaque reads:
On the 18th of September, 1852, James “Yankee Jim” Robinson was the last man to be hanged at this site after being convicted of grand larceny. The simple gallows consisted of two posts, a horizontal beam, and a mule-drawn wagon. Catholic priests conducted the final ceremonies and Yankee Jim was allowed time to deliver a farewell speech to the crowd that had gathered. Undersheriff Crosthwaite gave the order, and a whip was applied to the mules, leaving Yankee Jim to hang. Mr. Thomas Whaley, present during the execution, purchased this property shortly afterward. By all accounts, he built his brick home where the gallows originally stood.
Many years ago I visited the El Campo Santo cemetery where Yankee Jim was buried. I documented many of the gravesites, including his. I revisited the early San Diego cemetery again after discovering the Whaley House plaque.
The grave marker, which appears to contain errors, reads:
James W. Robinson, who was known as “Yankee Jim”, suffered the extreme penalty for stealing the only rowboat in San Diego Bay. The verdict of the jury was as follows: “Your jurors in the within case of James W. Robinson have to return a verdict of guilty and do therefore sentence him, James Robinson to be hanged by the neck until dead. Cave J. Courts [Cave Couts], foreman of the jury.
The poor fellow could not believe that he was to be hanged until the very last moment. He appeared to think it all a grim joke over, at worst. A serious effort to impress him with the enormity of his evil ways. He was still talking when the deputy sheriff gave the signal. Then the cart was driven from beneath him, and he was left dangling in the air. Surely the punishment was far more wicked than the crime. Yet the example must have proved effective in discouraging theft.
Yankee Jim converted to Roman Catholic Church prior to his death, thus his baptismal name of Santiago (Spanish for James). His godfather was Philip Crosthwaite, the deputy sheriff who gave the signal for his execution.
Information compiled from the History of San Diego, by W. E. Smythe, and other sources.
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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Here we go! Another month . . . another blog post about cool sights I photographed five years ago! What did I discover during September 2018?
A variety of astonishing things!
Such as eye-popping sand sculptures created by some of the world’s greatest sand sculptors! And the daredevil Swoop Freestyle World Championship on San Diego Bay! And the incredible, realistic Viking Festival in Vista!
Perhaps you’ve noticed how over the years I’ve photographed numerous murals in City Heights along University Avenue, between I-805 and I-15. Five years ago my first blog concerning this outdoor drive-thru art gallery appeared.
Check out the upcoming links!
Click the following links to enjoy many photographs…
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)!
Jack Gechter stands next to Historic Route California US 101 sign at South Bay Historical Society booth during Chula Vista Lemon Festival.
A very cool project is now being undertaken by the South Bay Historical Society. I learned about it last Saturday as I explored the Lemon Festival in Chula Vista.
A number of Historic Route California US 101 signs (like the one you see above) have been created, to be installed in National City, Chula Vista and San Ysidro along those streets where the legendary highway used to run.
Old timers might recall how US 101 ran north from near the US/Mexico Border in San Ysidro, along Beyer Blvd toward Chula Vista, along National Avenue (now Broadway in Chula Vista and National City Blvd in National City) to 8th Street, then along 8th Street west to Harbor Drive, before heading up through downtown San Diego and eventually into North County. Old U.S. Route 101 during its history saw various realignments, before being entirely replaced south of Los Angeles by Interstate 5 in 1964.
Here’s a great article detailing where the historic highway ran through San Diego and the South Bay cities. You’ll see current photographs of those places where it ran. Here’s another article with a map depicting an earlier US 101 Route, running up today’s National City Blvd to Main Street.
Many similar Historic Route US 101 signs have already been installed in San Diego County, particularly through the coastal cities of North County.
Once these new signs are installed, they will add a fine, nostalgic touch to those South Bay communities that the old highway once connected to the rest of California. And they will resurrect many fond memories.
Historic 101 Route Sign in San Ysidro, California. Image courtesy Jack Gechter.
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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 Twitter!
Whenever I visit Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, I like to walk over to the Blacksmith Shop to see what might be new. Then I explore the old wagons, carriages, anvils, a tyre bender, and other remnants from the past that are gathered nearby in a sheltered area.
This afternoon the first thing I spotted was two coffins!
When I asked Todd in the Blacksmith Shop why coffins had strangely appeared, I learned they’re props to be used in the State Park during Día de los Muertos. (The one that appears newly painted had me worried!)
I then learned something new concerning the wooden carriage that will be constructed for El Capitan, the historic Spanish cannon that used to sit in the middle of Old Town’s plaza.
It has been a couple of years, but now the carriage project is definitely underway. A new carriage will be built with the help of the Maritime Museum of San Diego!
Todd held up a small cannon model made with a 3D printer. Once completed, El Capitan’s new carriage should appear somewhat similar. (The current carriage, built in the 1980s, has deteriorated quite a bit because it never was painted.)
To read more about Old Town’s 18th century Spanish cannon and this slowly developing project, check out thesetwo past blog posts!
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An amazing Independence Day celebration was enjoyed today at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park!
It has been four years since the last 4th of July event of this magnitude in the State Park. That’s because of COVID and its unfortunate impacts on the park. But Old Town’s celebration of our nation’s birthday is back!
Many families turned out for the free fun. There were tables with crafts, a bluegrass band, historical demonstrations, authentic costumes, and old-fashioned games for the kids. The event provided a taste of how Independence Day might have been celebrated in early San Diego, back in the mid-19th century.
To all the people who make Old Town San Diego State Historic Park so wonderful–thank you!
A big 4th of July banner on the Robinson-Rose House, the State Park’s Information Center.Lots of folks were kicking back on the grassy, shady central plaza.Kids were enjoying crafts under some canopies.The Hot Pursuit Band plays old-time bluegrass music.One table concerned the living descendants of early San Diego.A visitor learns how thousands of people now living in San Diego have descended from the first residents of Old Town.
If you’d like to investigate the genealogy of San Diego families, check out this website.
To learn about the Descendants of Early San Diego, check out this website!
A look into the past of San Diego.Spinning on the porch of Threads of the Past.This year’s “Sanitary Commission” quilt at Threads of the Past. The colorful blocks were sewn by kids.What did San Diego look like in 1776? I chose the most barren-looking photo. The only structure back then was a 1769 Spanish fort, El Presidio Real de San Diego.A perfect Fourth of July afternoon for a picnic in the plaza near the historic Casa de Estudillo.Nostalgic games on the plaza included wheelbarrow races.As usual, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park’s active Blacksmith Shop drew a crowd.A smile in the garden of La Casa de Estudillo.And another smile in the courtyard!Celebrate the USA. Happy 4th!
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Have you seen the Old Adobe Wall inside the Del Mar Fairgrounds?
Wander through the outdoor Garden Show during the San Diego County Fair and you’re likely to stumble upon this bit of history:
In January of 1936, final approval from all department officials in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. was received for a new fairgrounds facility to be built in Del Mar… It was estimated that 500,000 hours of labor would be required for completion of the project… Each building was designed to represent one of the missions of California…
All of the buildings were made of native adobe, which was mixed and dried on the grounds. The eight-foot-high wall stretched along Jimmy Durante Boulevard, bordering the fairgrounds from the San Dieguito River on the south to Via de la Valle on the north. It was constructed of thousands of adobe bricks…A very small portion of the original wall still stands near the Exhibits offices…
This adobe brick is one of the original bricks made here on the Del Mar Fairgrounds in 1936 using local clay and straw…
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Have you noticed those four working gas lamps in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter? The ones that help light the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Market Street?
Walk beneath the lamps and you might notice bronze plaques embedded in the sidewalk. They indicate these working gas lamps were installed in 2002. You’ll also learn the idea to have real gas lamps in the Gaslamp Quarter was originated by the Coss family.
The Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego got its name because once upon a time, back when today’s downtown was called New Town, there were fifty gas lamps lighting the young city. Fifth Avenue was one of the principal streets, leading south to a wharf in San Diego Bay.
The dancing flames of today’s four active gas lamps are like spirits from the past. They add atmosphere to a historic district that features many old Victorian buildings, particularly at night.
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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 Twitter!
The restoration of the 1910 Balboa Park Carousel is now in high gear! I saw workers refurbishing the old building’s exterior today during a walk through Balboa Park. The historic carousel is scheduled to reopen next month!
Over the past several years, there have been various efforts to help preserve the beloved merry-go-round. I’ve posted several blogs concerning it. Carousel animals have been newly painted. LED lighting has been installed. The roof has been altered, removing the triangular overhangs at each corner.
More recently, according to the Forever Balboa Park website, the restoration project has proceeded with structure stabilization and the installation of a fire-safety sprinkler system.
The comprehensive restoration should be completed in July in time for National Carousel Day!
There will be a big celebration that day! There will be free carousel rides and family entertainment! When? July 25th, from 11 AM – 5:30 PM.
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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 Twitter!
Cool San Diego Sights! 