National City’s unique Historic Railcar Plaza. One can peek inside the barn and see a few exhibits that recall 19th century rail service in San Diego’s South Bay.
During my excursion last weekend to National City, I saw several very cool sights. Here’s one!
Those interested in San Diego’s rich history of trains and streetcars should visit the Historic Railcar Plaza, which is located at the intersection of Bay Marina Boulevard and Harrison Avenue. (It’s right across from National City’s awesome Old Depot museum, which I’ll blog about as soon as my photos are ready!)
In addition to several displays dedicated to past railroads that serviced San Diego’s South Bay, the Historic Railcar Plaza features the fantastic, restored Passenger Coach No. 1. The old coach can be rolled outside of a small train barn on special occasions. Passenger Coach No. 1 was originally built in 1887 and carried passengers up and down the National City and Otay Railway (NC&O) until 1914. The beautiful open railcar used to seat up to 58 passengers in varnished redwood splendor.
The Historic Railcar Plaza’s small barn was built in 2000. The day I peeked through the windows it was padlocked shut. The windows were rather dirty and a few of the displays within had toppled over, which seems to indicate a degree of neglect. Apparently the cool car is rolled outside on the short track from time to time. I hope to see that one day!
Many of my photos were through those dirty windows. I did my best to adjust the images for clarity.
Mysterious stretch of train track emerges from the barn’s door. A very cool bit of history can be rolled outdoors during special occasions.That bit of history is the restored Passenger Coach No. 1, of the long-defunct National City and Otay Railway.The restored coach features outdoor bench seating and beautiful woodwork. Passengers could ride this car from San Diego through National City and Chula Vista to the Mexican border.A mannequin inside the Historic Railcar Plaza depicts the legendary Millionaire Hobo, J.B. King, Esq. His one burning ambition was to write his name on every car of every train in the country!A century ago, a ticket for the sixty mile round trip on the National City and Otay Railway could be purchased for just one dollar.Two old photographs. On the left, the old Coronado Railroad traveled through Imperial Beach and up the Silver Strand to Tent City in Coronado. One can see the splendid Hotel del Coronado in the distance!Map inside the Historic Railcar Plaza shows the various railways that once serviced San Diego, when transportation by train was extremely popular.Key to the above map includes the region’s evolving railroads: the California Southern, the National City and Otay, the Coronado, the San Diego Southern, the San Diego and Southeastern. and the San Diego and Arizona.
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Tour guide Jeff explains that today’s Studio 36 Sculptors Guild was an outdoor theatre in the early years of Spanish Village. The front was a lobby and ticket booth. Writers, actors and set designers would act out plays on the inner patio.
Spanish Village Art Center, in beautiful Balboa Park, is where you’ll find the colorful studios of many fine San Diego artists. Last year I blogged about the history of this fascinating place. A small exhibit in Gallery 21 recounted how Spanish Village was created for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, and traced the village’s evolution over subsequent decades. Unfortunately, that exhibit no longer exists. But I did record much of it. To enjoy an overview of the history, you can revisit my old blog post by clicking here.
Last Saturday I was given a terrific tour of Spanish Village by a super friendly guy named Jeff. During the tour, Jeff showed me some unusual, unexpected features of Spanish Village and delved into its often surprising history.
(Fortunately, Jeff gave me some notes that I will reference in this blog. Should you enjoy a tour yourself, you can probably obtain your own copy!)
Please read the photo captions where I provide descriptions and very short explanations. As you’ll see, many interesting changes in Spanish Village have taken place over the years. And I’ve barely begun to scratch the surface!
If something I’ve written is inaccurate, or needs some elaboration, leave a comment! What memories do you have?
Click here to check out the Spanish Village Art Center blog! Support these great artists!
An old photograph of how Spanish Village appeared around the time of the California Pacific International Exposition of 1935.
In 1935, when Spanish Village opened, visitors strolled down simulated Old World streets, which featured restaurants and shops in picturesque, open-arched buildings. The architecture was inspired by the Andalusian region of southern Spain. In addition to wine shops, a cocktail lounge and a Chinese Bazaar, one could buy flowers and enjoy music, art . . . and even a high wire trapeze act!
You can see in the above old photograph a no-longer-existing building at the center of today’s large patio. It separated Spanish Village into two “streets” that visitors could enjoy.
Over the years, resident artists have built out the small open air shops to create practical but unique enclosed spaces. Some of the open arches have been filled in, or can now be seen inside certain studios.
A current map of Spanish Village shows how it appears today. You can find this wonderful part of Balboa Park between the Natural History Museum and the San Diego Zoo.Jeff shows me Studios 34 A and 34 B, which were originally one space featuring a puppet show.Studios 24 through 28 surround a small inner courtyard. This area in Spanish Village originally contained a wishing well and actual horse stalls!Studio 6 has a sliding barn door! Two other studios dating from the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition have similar doors.Studio 8, like many others in Spanish Village, was built out from the original open archway to provide more space for the artists. The words The SHANGHAI are from 1935. It evidently used to be a bar.Near Studio 8’s entrance are two amazing works of art. Here’s one. It was created by John Novy, a potter who was a member of Spanish Village from 1969 to 1977.Second installation of ceramic tiles on exterior of Studio 8 in Spanish Village. This art was created by professional potter John Novy.This used to be the east entrance into Spanish Village. Today you’ll find outdoor glassblowers creating amazing glass pieces while visitors gather around to watch.The old east entrance (under the tiles) is now blocked off. Much of the grassy area occupied by today’s Balboa Park Miniature Railroad used to be a parking lot.Studio 18 is now the office of Spanish Village Art Center. In the early years a caretaker lived here. That rooster weather vane can be seen in many old photographs.The south end of the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society building used to extend a bit into today’s large patio area. You can see an old wooden beam on the present-day exterior.This quaint little street, during the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, led into the Fun Zone! Now it leads to a small parking lot.Gazing back south from the parking lot at today’s Spanish Village artist co-op in Balboa Park.The extended west side of the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society building was built sometime after the 1935 Expo.Originally, the building terminated where you see the column.Walking along the west edge of Spanish Village. Many decorative columns and arches provide this artist’s co-op with unique character.Looking through the west archway toward a shrub elephant, which stands on a nearby, newly improved walkway that heads north to the San Diego Zoo.This large dance floor (and the area where I’m standing) at the center of the colorful Spanish Village patio was once occupied by a large building. It seems there is some debate as to what that building was, exactly.Studio 3 is occupied by artist Don Knapp. He arrived at Spanish Village as a child! His grandmother was a founding member in the 1930s.Loads of fun, creative stuff is going on in Spanish Village Art Center in 2016. Please click the image to enlarge it, and then mark your calendar!Jeff provides a really interesting tour. Look for his friendly smile if you happen to find yourself in wonderful, historic Spanish Village!
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Late afternoon stroll on the pier between Tuna Harbor and Seaport Village. The Manchester Grand Hyatt towers are glowing in a dramatic sky.
Late this afternoon I took a stroll through a beautiful city of silver and gold. Here are the photos…
Walking through Seaport Village toward the Marriott Marquis and Marina. The beautiful hotel is shining like precious silver.Late afternoon sunlight reflected off the two silvery sail-like towers of the Marriott Marquis on San Diego Bay.Blue sky, white and dark clouds, and fantastic patterns created by light reflected on the amazing glass building.White superyachts docked behind the San Diego Convention Center are bathed in late afternoon light.The masts of three large yachts in a row, like vertical beams of light.End of day approaches. The sun sets fire to a glass portion of the San Diego Convention Center.The sun is almost ready to set over San Diego Bay. Golden light now prevails.The parking structure of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront has turned gold.A golden pathway through the city. Amazing beauty seen during a late afternoon walk on the pedestrian bridge over Harbor Drive.
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The catamaran Aolani sails behind the Maritime Museum of San Diego just before sunset.
A few photos from my short walk after work. I strolled along the Embarcadero and visited the Maritime Museum of San Diego, one of my favorite places. The sun was setting…
Tourists walk among many historic boats and ships behind the steam ferry Berkeley. The racing sloop Butcher Boy is over a hundred years old. It sailed rapidly out on the bay, always first to provide fresh provisions to visiting ships.School students learn how to handle an oar, before heading out on San Diego Bay in a museum longboat.Sun gently falls behind the picturesque deck and rigging of HMS Surprise.A winter sunset paints the sky behind the B-39 Soviet submarine and the masts of several ships, including Californian, San Salvador and America.HMS Surprise, steam ferry Berkeley, and a beautiful sky.A soft sunset and still water. Nightfall on San Diego Bay.
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Sunlight reflects from an interesting sculptural facade in downtown San Diego.
Some unique artwork has recently appeared on San Diego’s Embarcadero. An eye-catching sculptural facade is part of the new two-hotels-in-one-building project that was recently completed at the site once occupied by historic Lane Field.
Marriott’s dual Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites San Diego Downtown/Bayfront has been open for about two weeks. A couple days ago, I walked right up to the lobby entrance to snap several pics…
A unique building now stands at the location of old Lane Field, home of the minor league baseball Padres over half a century ago. It contains two new Marriott Hotels: Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites.Shining sculptural facade on parking garage levels of recently completed Marriott two-hotels-in-one building. This unique sight can be found on San Diego’s waterfront at the site of old Lane Field.Closer photo of the uniquely undulating artwork, which conceals parking garage levels.I learned these thin, curving layers are made of aluminum.Marriott’s new SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn on San Diego’s Embarcadero reflects warm light shortly before sunset.
UPDATE!
I received a comment from the artist! In it he writes:
“My name is David Franklin and I am the artist that created the rippling facade for the new building. Its called “California Rain” and is the product of the percent for art in the Port of San Diego public art program…”
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk!
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Two rugged mountain men, one with a fiddle, hang out behind Seeley Stable in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.
Here are some cool photos of what life was like back in the Old West. I snapped these last weekend behind Seeley Stable at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Some mountain men, a gunsmith and blacksmith were showing visitors a few aspects of frontier life long ago.
Beyond this gate just off La Plaza de Las Armas is the yard behind Seeley Stable. Here you’ll find outdoor exhibits, including old wagons and a blacksmith and woodshop.A gunsmith who assembles his own old-fashioned rifles and firearms shows a visitor some examples in San Diego’s historic Old Town.This antique flintlock pistol would have been used in past centuries for personal protection at close range.A friendly mountain man had a table full of skins, knives and other objects associated with frontier life in the Old West.A demonstration of how trappers in the Old West would set a beaver trap by a river and anchor it to a strong stick in the mud.This rusty tool with a long handle is a tyre shrinker. It was used for routine maintenance in the olden days–reducing the diameter of the iron tyres found on wooden wagon, cart and buggy wheels.Someone reads a sign near a tyre bender. This device was used to send long, flat bars of iron or steel into a smooth circle that would become an iron tyre.An old covered wagon on display behind Seeley Stable. They were typically sturdy farm wagons with a canvas top. Covered wagons were used on trail drives and cross-country treks.Photo inside the well-equipped blacksmith shop. It’s located behind Seeley Stable in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.Some park visitors look into the small blacksmith building.A blacksmith removes red hot iron from the fire. He was demonstrating how to make hinges today!
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Many canoes and kayaks were passing under the Ingraham Street Bridge between South Cove and Perez Cove, not far from SeaWorld.
My long walk yesterday around Mission Bay yielded lots of photos. I started at Vacation Isle, then headed slowly and somewhat aimlessly to the jetty at the end of Hospitality Point. It was a journey through a tranquil San Diego paradise, on a warm winter day.
My photos feature relatively few people. But I can assure you thousands of folks were out enjoying the sunshine. They were fishing, boating, picnicking, reading, walking, playing sports on the grass… Mission Bay is a really big place.
Radio control model sailboats cross the Model Boat Pond on Vacation Isle.These fire pits just north of Dana Landing have wood stacked ready for Saturday night.A casual seat on the dirt with great views.A heron on rocks, and reflections of boats at Dana Landing.Gazing from the West Mission Bay Drive Bridge down descending stairs toward Sunset Point.People return from an excursion out on the Pacific Ocean. The dock at Seaforth Sportfishing is always busy.Visitors walk through Marina Village on Mission Bay.A map by Quivira Basin shows areas off the coast that are protected. Conserving California’s Coastal Treasure.Kicking back with a best friend among boats on the blue water. In the distance you can see the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina.Colorful kayaks await at Aqua Adventures.This tropical party shack seems long abandoned. It stands near an entrance to Mission Bay Marina.A dirt nature trail along the channel that connects the ocean and Mission Bay.Rare and Remarkable. This area displays Coastal sand dune vegetation. The native Beach lotus is endangered.Walking along the jetty west of Hospitality Point. This narrow strip of land separates the San Diego River, to the left, from the man-made channel into Mission Bay. One can see a sliver of Ocean Beach, on the left, and Mission Beach, on the right.A fisherman on land, and two on the water. Across the Entrance Channel lies very popular South Mission Beach.Bicycling along. Heading toward the end of the long jetty. It’s a beautiful day. One can see forever.
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I wrote another short story! I penned it yesterday, during my walk along the bay.
It’s a bittersweet, philosophical, tiny piece of fiction. The sort of thing I like to write. There’s some sadness in the sunshine. The title is Light on the Restless and Small.
Outrigger canoes, ready to be pushed out into the deeper water of Mission Bay, San Diego’s recreational paradise.
Today I went for another relaxing walk around beautiful Mission Bay. I was fortunate enough to watch San Diego’s Kai Elua Outrigger Canoe Club launch four boats from the beach. They have opened up a few recent Saturday practice sessions for anybody who might be interested in learning the sport of outrigger canoe racing.
The good-sized group paddled out into Mission Bay this morning just after nine o’clock, near Vacation Isle’s North Cove Public Beach.
Here are a few fun pics. I’ve got more photos coming from today’s long walk!
Looking across a small section of Mission Bay, toward the Ingraham Street bridge, which connects Vacation Isle to Pacific Beach.Members and guests of San Diego’s Kai Elua Outrigger Canoe Club carry a large boat across the beach toward the blue water of Mission Bay.Vacationers watched from the public beach and the nearby cottages of Paradise Point Resort, as the outrigger canoes were carried to the water.Some people enjoying stand up paddleboarding on Mission Bay also viewed the fascinating launch.The four outrigger canoes are soon manned and afloat. They head out for a day of racing practice.Flip-flops left in the sand near two beached outrigger canoes.
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I’ve started a new photo blog! It’s called Beautiful Balboa Park! My first post concerns a beautiful but scraggly cactus garden that very few visitors see.
As you might know, I live in downtown San Diego very close to Balboa Park, so this new blog should be fairly active. I hope you enjoy it!
Here are a few of the photos:
Please follow my new blog by clicking the link below to see much, much more!
People walk along narrow outdoor deck of Anthony’s Fishette, a popular casual dining spot for half a century in downtown San Diego.
Their 50 year lease is almost up. Anthony’s Fish Grotto on San Diego’s Embarcadero will soon be no more. They are to be replaced in 2017 by the Brigantine seafood restaurant. A golden era that produced many wonderful, irreplaceable memories is coming to a close.
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve lingered in ecstasy at Anthony’s outdoor Fishette, which is adjacent to the more formal indoor restaurant. Except when I was a child, I’ve never eaten in the restaurant. But outside, on the deck, inhaling the ocean breeze, listening to the cries of circling seagulls, squinting into the sun and feeling its warmth on my face–I’ve devoured acres of tasty french fries and oceans of fish.
Millions of people around the planet have golden memories of the place. This is my small photographic tribute to Anthony’s outdoor Fishette. I stopped by for a delicious grilled tuna melt sandwich late yesterday afternoon.
Over the years, many of the people who have worked at Anthony’s Fishette gave me a friendly smile or hello. To them, I say thank you.
You have until January 31, 2017 to enjoy this true San Diego tradition and treasure, and to say thank you.
Front of Anthony’s Fish Grotto as seen from Harbor Drive. In early 2017, this iconic San Diego restaurant will be demolished.Smiles are typical at Anthony’s Fishette. So is sunny outdoor pleasure and yummy seafood.A photo through glass of the small boat dock and blue San Diego Bay as a glowing sunset nears.A reflection in window of Anthony’s Fish Grotto of the setting sun. A golden era is coming to a close on San Diego’s waterfront.Possibly the best outdoor seating in all of San Diego. Just above the lapping water, with a sweeping, wonderful view.Passing by Anthony’s Fishette one fine January day. I’ve walked past perhaps a thousand times.Countless millions of fond memories have been made here.
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