San Diego » Culture & History

Heritage Park

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:57:24 +0000

Heritage Park near San Diego State Historic Park in Old Town keeps the architectural history of San Diego alive. This 7.8-acre park is dedicated to the preservation of San Diego’s Victorian architecture. When expansion downtown after WWII threatened these structures with demolition on their original sites, public and private funds paid for the acquisition, relocation, and restoration of these buildings. Come admire the Victorian architecture of these old houses, several of which are open for public viewing. Marvel at the Christian House, characterized by a variety of chimneys, shingles, a corner tower, and encircling veranda. Wander through San Diego’s first synagogue, Temple Beth Israel, reflecting the church styles of the late 1800s. Get a glimpse of 19^th century San Diego at Heritage Park, open daily from sunrise to sunset. www.heritageparksd.com. (619) 819-6009.

Camp Pendleton

jenifer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:56:18 +0000

Located in North San Diego County, and covering over 200 square miles Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base is the busiest military base in the United States. Camp Pendleton offers training facilities for Marine, Army and Navy units, and is also a permanent home to many active Marine, Army and Navy units. With 17.5-mile stretch of pristine shoreline along the base, Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of recreational facilities and activities on the base.
In 1942, the ranch land was transformed into the largest Marine Corps base in the country, and dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Named for Major General Joseph H. Pendleton, the camp has enjoyed a colorful heritage, preserving its storied past with careful conservation of the base’s history and buildings, including the original home of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force’s commanding general, which is now designated as a National Historic Site. Pendleton has some great surfing spots with the best waves found at San Onofre Beach, one of two stretches of sand bookending the base, and Del Mar Beach on the southern end.

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

erin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:21:44 +0000

There are over 100 interactive exhibits displayed throughout the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s five galleries inviting visitors to build, listen and play. Home to the world’s first IMAX Dome Theater showing the biggest films on the planet, this educational facility is geared towards all age groups. One of the Fleet’s most popular displays is “Block Busters” where visitors can think like an architect and build free-standing structures made of wooden KEVA (Knowledge-Education-Visual Arts) blocks. Other exhibits include “Kid City” for visitors through age five and “SO WATT!”, a look at converting energy into electricity. The current traveling exhibits are “Geometry Playground” and “Identity: An Exhibition of You.” Identity allows you to explore your unique physical, psychological and social identities with a series of hands-on interactive experiences.

(619)238-1233 | 1875 El Prado • San Diego, CA 92101 | www.rhfleet.org

Mass Transit bus route #7

New Exhibit: Black Holes: Space Warps & Time Twists

February 4, 2012 – April 29, 2012

This out of this world exhibition explores what we know, don’t know, and think we know about one of the world’s greatest space mysteries—black holes . These regions in space, sometimes only a few kilometers across, have gravity so powerful that light cannot escape and matter drawn into them is lost forever. Einstein imagined black holes but doubted they could exist in nature. Today evidence suggests they are quite common.

Black Holes: Space Warps & Time Twists is designed like a space mission. Visitors are briefed, issued a Black Holes Explorer ID Card, and then sent on a journey to the edge of these strange phenomena to discover how the latest research is turning science fiction into fact, challenging our notions of space and time in the process.

Regular Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-5 | Fri 10-8 | Sat 10-7 | Sun 10-6

Buy your discounted tickets now!

Click on the coupon, print it out, and enjoy the savings on us!

Spanish Village Art Center

erin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:18:44 +0000

Discover San Diego’s coveted secret for art lovers at the Spanish Village Art Center, right in the heart of Balboa Park. Patrons, art lovers and the just curious folks can enjoy artwork of over 200 artisans and craftspeople showcasing their work in and about 37 colorful working artist studios and galleries.

The quaint buildings and courtyards, initially built in 1935 to portray an old village in Spain for the second California Pacific International Exposition, house the individual quaint studios. After the exposition, the popular attraction reopened in 1937 as an art center. Over the last 60+ years, San Diego artists have continued to preserve and enhance this historical landmark by adding to its beauty with colorful flowers and unique entryways. Embrace your imagination and participate in one of the many classes offered at Spanish Village like Chinese brush painting, glass blowing, or pottery design. Free admission (619) 233-9050.

www.spanishvillageart.com. Mass Transit bus route # 7.

Click here for a map to the Spanish Village Art Center.

Related Articles: Chicano Park | Old Town, San Diego

San Diego’s Auto Museum

erin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:09:40 +0000

Balboa Park is home to San Diego’s Automotive Museum which houses one of the finest automotive collections on the West Coast. Included is Louie Mattar’s white 1947 Cadillac that he and two co-drivers drove in a cross-country endurance record from San Diego to New York and back without stopping. Their trip totaled 6,320 miles and required refueling from a moving gas truck three times. During the trips, Louie and his co-drivers had all the comforts of home, although space was limited. The equipment in the back seat includes an electric stove, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a chemical toilet, an ironing board, a medicine cabinet, and a kitchen sink. All of these appliances can be stored under the back seat cushions.

(619) 231.2886 | 2080 Pan American Plaza | www.sdautomuseum.org

New Exhibit: Woodies

Feb 3 2012 – May 27 2012

First automobiles were mostly wood based, at least the chassis and body were.

By the time of the Model T – post WWI – the Depot Hack had become a practical vehicle for carting passengers and luggage to the train depot and back. A simple and functional design, the Hack proved to be quite useful and beautiful at the same time. Although, the market was very limited and manufacturers choose, usually, to contract with third-party builders to fabricate the wooden sections. A company like Mifflinberg built the woodies for Ford Dodge, Overland, and Chevrolet.

Following WWII, many people needed the low cost and spacious vehicles for the family. But the cars were not cheap. Costly to build and costly to maintain, the cars were the most expensive of the line-ups. Like a boat, the wood needed constant attention. The manufacturers were aware of the problem and began planning wagons of steel by the late 1940s. Ford, the most prolific of woodie builders, phased out the wooden structure cars by 1948. The Shoebox Ford (1949 – 50 – 51) was the last of these classics. From then on, they only appeared to be wood, but instead it was plastic or decals that simulated the wood of the past. Other companies did the same at about that time.

Woodies in the late 1940s and 1950s were disappearing into the ground – literally. Because an old woodie could be had for the savings of a teenager, these cars began to be picked up for service as beach transportation and surfboard transporters. They were, by that time, rough, but they could serve the purpose and helped to create a new image of Southern California life.

As the surfer crowd aged and accumulated wealth, the woodie represented a past that was attractive to the helter-skelter life-style of the 80s and 90s. The woodie parked out in the barn or field was dragged out for restoration. Some were customized, many or most were restored to their original elegance. Wood grain was carefully matched and wood-working skills developed. Today these cars can be seen and enjoyed at such events as “Wavecrest” in Encinitas, California every September. Woodies come from all around the country to participate, but most are California originals.

The San Diego Automotive Museum is open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Admission:

$8.00 – Adults (16 to 64)
$6.00 – Seniors (over 64)
$6.00 – Military (show ID)
$5.00 – Student (with ID)
$4.00 – Youth (6-15)
Free – Children (under 6)

Mass Transit bus route # 7.

Free to San Diego residents on the fourth Tuesday of each month!

Click here for a map to the San Diego Automotive Museum.

San Diego Air And Space Museum

erin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:04:14 +0000

HOW THINGS FLY EXHIBIT

To explore San Diego’s Air and Space Museum is to celebrate the progression and history of aviation and aerospace. Some of the oldest and most significant aircraft specimens in history, dating back to 1783 when the Montgolfier brothers invented the first hot air balloon, can be found here. Other historic aircrafts include the Lockheed Vega 5, which was flown by Amelia Earhart on many monumental occasions, as well as the Horten 229 Flying Wing, a replica of Hitler’s Stealth Fighter that was discovered in World War II.

Check out their newest exhibit, How Things Fly… Opening February 1, 2012. Experience the Adventure will entertain, challenge and educate visitors of all ages! Visit the four zones of How Things Fly: Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Meteorology and Air Traffic Control – each giving an insight into the wonder of flight!

(619)234-8291 | 2001 Pan American Plaza | www.sandiegoairandspace.org

Throughout the year the museum hosts a calendar of fun family days and special education events. Also, don’t forget about Resident Free Tuesday! The San Diego Air & Space Museum is free the 4th Tuesday of every month to San Diego County Residents, San Diego County College Students, Active Duty Military and their dependents. You must show a valid ID to receive free admission.

Hours:

10am-4:30pm, final entry at 4pm

Space (Special Exhibition) Pricing:

Adults (12 and over): $24.00

Senior/Student/Retired Military w/ ID: $21.00

Youth (3-11 years): $12.00

Children (2 and under): FREE

Active Duty Military: $7.50

SDASM Adult Members:$7.00

SDASM Youth Members: $5.00

*Includes admission to the Museum.

Regular Museum Pricing:

Adults (12 and over): $16.50

Senior/Student/Retired Military w/ ID: $13.50

Youth (3-11 years): $6

Children 2 and Under: FREE

SDASM Members: FREE

Active Duty Military: FREE

Restoration Tours – Adult: $5

Restoration Tours – Senior/Student: $4

Restoration Tours – Junior: $3

Max Flight Simulator: $8 per person

(619) 234.8291. www.aerospacemuseum.org. Mass Transit bus route # 7.

Click on the coupon to print it out and enjoy!

*If you like this article then you will like these: San Diego Natural History Museum, California Surf Museum, and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

Cabrillo National Monument

erin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:17:21 +0000

A visit to Cabrillo National Monument offers tremendous views of the San Diego region and excellent opportunities to explore the natural and cultural history of the area. Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo departed from the port of Navidad, Mexico on June 27, 1542. Climbing out of his boat and onto shore approximately three months later, Cabrillo made history as the first European to set foot on a “very good enclosed port,” today known as San Diego Bay. In addition to telling the story of 16th century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Proudly standing in Point Loma and offering visitors an astounding view of the Pacific is a statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo erected in 1913, nearly four hundred years after his expedition. Today, the habitat Cabrillo saw is among the rarest in the world with only a remnant of that biologically diverse ecosystem remaining. (619) 222-4747. www.nps.gov/cabr

Mass Transit bus routes #84.

Click here for a map to Cabrillo National Monument.

San Diego Hidden Bridges

erin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:07:46 +0000

There are approximately 300 bridges within city limits and architect enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the hunt for the hidden bridges. Two of the oldest are located in the Hillcrest and Bankers Hill neighborhoods.

Built in 1905, the Quince Street trestle bridge is a pedestrian bridge, recently restored to its original glory. Located in Hillcrest, it crosses over Maple Canyon between Third and Fourth Avenues and has become a romantic spot full of history.

Locals know the pedestrian bridge located in the northern Bankers Hill area as “the wiggly bridge.” Officially, it is known as the Spruce Street Bridge and was built in 1912. It spans over Kate Sessions Canyon, which lines Fourth and Fifth Avenues.

Whether conquering your fear of heights is on your visitor’s agenda or not, taking a stroll or drive on some of these bridges is not only a connection to the past but a great way to see San Diego’s hidden gems.

William Heath Davis House

monic5 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:07:41 +0000

Experience the old world charm of the William Heath Davis House, the oldest house in San Diego’s Historic Gaslamp Quarter, dating back to 1850. Because of the shortage of lumber in the area at the time, 8 to 10 pre-cut houses were bought and shipped from Maine to San Diego. Today, the William Heath Davis House is San Diego’s only remaining “salt-box” style house.

Each room represents a different period in the house’s history, from its use as a pre-Civil War military officer’s barracks to that of a make-shift hospital, to the home of the owners who saw to it that their house would eventually become a museum. The City of San Diego purchased the house in 1970s and moved to its current location at the corner of Island and Fourth Avenues in 1984. Since then, curators have worked tirelessly to restore the house to its current state as a museum for all to appreciate and enjoy. (619) 233-4692. www.gaslampquarter.org. Mass transit routes #3, 11, 120. Orange Trolley Line

Click here for a map to the William Heath Davis House.

San Diego Natural History Museum

erin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:06:54 +0000

The San Diego Natural History Museum strives to interpret the natural world through research, education and exhibits and to inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment. See an eye-popping array of horns, beaks, bills, teeth, and more at SKULLS and learn about the science behind gems and minerals at All That Glitters. Venue over to Fossil Mysteries, where visitors can ponder a mystery, examine the strong fossil evidence from the Museum’s collection, and use scientific tools to discover answers from the age of dinosaurs to the Ice Ages. Their newest exhibit, Best of Nature, displays magnificent nature-based imagery by amateur and professional photographers.

Starting February 10, be sure to check out the much-anticipated “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.” The galleries focus on the legendary Titanic’s compelling human stories as best told through authentic artifacts recovered from the ocean floor and extensive room re-creations. (619) 232-3821. www.sdnhm.org. Mass Transit bus route #7.

The Museum is free to San Diego County Residents on the first Tuesday of each month.

Buy your discounted tickets now!

San Diego » Culture & History

Heritage Park

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Camp Pendleton

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Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

New Exhibit: Black Holes: Space Warps & Time Twists

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Spanish Village Art Center

San Diego’s Auto Museum

New Exhibit: Woodies

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San Diego Air And Space Museum

HOW THINGS FLY EXHIBIT

*If you like this article then you will like these: San Diego Natural History Museum, California Surf Museum, and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

Cabrillo National Monument

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San Diego Hidden Bridges

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William Heath Davis House

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San Diego Natural History Museum

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