Celebrating Balboa Park’s Centennial – The San Diego Natural History Museum

April 28th, 2015

San Diego Natural History Museum - Balboa Park

San Diego Natural History Museum – Balboa Park

In honor of Balboa Park’s Centennial Celebration, we will feature some of the park’s greatest attractions with a stop at the San Diego Natural History Museum.  Founded in 1874, the San Diego Society of Natural History is the oldest scientific institution in Southern California.  Not much happened in the early years, but the members did create a weather station and petitioned to create Torrey Pines State Reserve.

In June of 1912, the members met in the Hotel Cecil on 6th Avenue and few exhibits were installed in a single room and an alcove.  The society had opened its first museum!  In 1917, the society purchased a vacant building from the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.  The museum occupied three different buildings in Balboa Park before they even celebrated their 50th anniversary and finally moved into today’s location, designed by San Diego’s leading architect of the time, William T. Johnson.  The $175,000 Natural History Museum building was formally dedicated on January 14, 1933.

“Founded in 1874, the San Diego Society of Natural History is the oldest scientific institution in Southern California.”

In 1943, the United States Navy took over the Natural History Museum for hospital use, becoming the infectious diseases ward.  Some renovations took place in the facility, including the addition of an elevator designed to handle hospital gurneys and a nurses’ station between floors.  Both features remain in use today.  Once the staff was allowed to reoccupy the building, a major renovation took place and the board adopted a firm policy to restrict collections to the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico.

In April 2001, the new construction more than doubled the size of the old building from 65,000 square feet of useable space to 150,000 square feet.

 The museum presently houses a collection of permanent displays as well as other fascinating exhibits which constantly change and evolve – at present Coast to Cactus in Southern California in honor of the 100 year anniversary Centennial Celebration.  More praiseworthy exhibits currently featured include: Birds of the World, Skulls, Walking With Dinosaurs, Ocean Oasis, and Tiny Giants.

While you are at the San Diego Natural History Museum, stop and admire the spectacular tree outside the museum’s north entrance.  It’s the iconic Moreton Bay Fig Tree, which—like most of the other large trees in the Prado area of Balboa Park—was planted in preparation for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.  Since it was a few years old when it was planted in 1914, its age should probably be computed from about 1910, making this majestic tree more than 100 years old today.

For more information and program times and dates visit: BalboaPark.org

Interested in properties near the prestigious Balboa Park?  We encourage you to contact us right away.  Either use the form to the right give us a call. We are here to provide you the very best service in San Diego real estate.

The Latest Headlines

Your Guide to the Mortgage Pre-Approval Process 

Whether as a first-time buyer or as an investment property, purchasing a condominium is a great way to enter the housing market. Its flexibility, convenient amenities, low maintenance, and affordability are just......

read more

Aria San Diego Market Updates

Aria – Market Updates Located in the highest point of Downtown San Diego in Cortez Hill, Aria was completed in 2008 with 137 units and offers a wonderful location away from the......

read more

Interior Improvements for your Downtown San Diego Condo

These days it is simply not enough to just throw your Downtown San Diego Condo onto the local real estate market and hope for the best. Agreed, sometimes this does work, but......

read more

The Ins & Outs of Condo Home Inspections

A home inspection is a visual assessment of a residential property that is carried out by a licensed inspector. Its purpose is to identify any issues that may significantly impact the value......

read more

8 Condo Interior Style Trends for 2023

It’s not just the exterior of a condo that makes it homey and inviting – the interior design is also key to creating an atmosphere you’ll love spending time in. Whether it’s......

read more

How to Make an Offer on a Condo

What goes into a good offer for a condo? There are many aspects to consider when negotiating a good deal. From the location and the market, how long the property’s been up......

read more

Electra San Diego Market Updates

Electra – Market Updates Electra is Downtown San Diego’s tallest residential tower. Standing 43 stories tall, Electra is an easy building to spot in the Columbia District on the corner of Kettner......

read more

Moving Into a New Condo: All You Need to Know

Now that you’ve put your signature on the dotted line, your condo purchase is finally complete. You can start planning for the future and getting ready for a new and exciting condo......

read more

Union Square San Diego Market Updates

Union Square – Market Updates In the East Village between Broadway Avenue, C Street and 14th and 15th Avenues is Union Square, a mixed-use development featuring 262 condominiums located in three buildings.......

read more

4 Signs It’s Time to Buy a New Condo

When should I buy a new condo? This is a question that many people ask themselves when they are looking to purchase an investment property. Buying a new condo can be a......

read more

Get Listings and Articles Delivered Straight to your inbox

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.