BALBOA PARK MUSEUMS

Panama-California Exposition Architecture Balboa Park
Only a few people appear to have looked carefully at the south façade of the California Building in San Diego’s Balboa Park. An article in the San Diego Union, January 1, 1915, declared the California Building was “copied in many essential details from the magnificent cathedral at Oaxaca, Mexico.” Though built for the State of California as its contribution to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego, the California Building did not house state exhibits.

Much of the park’s appearance nowadays is because of the expansion done for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. It was decided that the buildings were to be done in Spanish mission and Indian pueblo styles. Some of the edifices built for the exposition that remain standing are:

• Administration Building
• Botanical Building
• California State Building and Quadrangle
• Cabrillo Bridge
• Spreckels Organ Pavilion
• California Bell Tower

Balboa Park Lodging
Balboa Park Inn
Park Manor Suites
Hotel Occidental
San Diego Downtown Travelodge
Quality Inn and Suites Harborview


In April 2004 the American Podiatric Medical Association called San Diego one of the 12 best walking cities in the US, citing walking places like the 12,000-acre Balboa Park and its almost 80 museums and theaters, 70 miles of coastline and 4,600 acre Mission Bay a few miles from the city’s center and airport. It was also named by the Partners for Livable Communities as one of America’s most livable communities based on the city’s climate, economy, amenities and location.

California Indian Days Celebration Balboa Park
The American California American Indian Day is held every fall at San Diego’s Balboa Park. Last year veterans from the American Indian Warriors Association provided the color guard and a spiritual blessing to begin the weekend’s events.
“Over twenty years ago we decided that we should have something in the park to educated the greater community to who we are and let them know that we’re still here,” said Master of Ceremonies Randy Edwards, founder of the Indian Human Resources Center.




In San Diego alone, there are 18 American Indian reservations. This heritage is celebrated every year at Balboa Park, featuring California Indian dance groups, music acts, storytellers and the color guard. In addition, there are booths with arts and crafts, authentic American Indian food and other displays.

San Diego Hotels Balboa Park
Balboa Park Inn: Insiders looking for unusual lodgings head straight for this little pink hotel at the northern rim of Balboa Park. It’s a group of four Spanish colonial-style former apartment buildings in a mostly suburban area a half-mile east of Hillcrest proper. The hotel is popular with gay tourists drawn to Hillcrest’s restaurants and pubs, but note that all of these are at least four blocks away

You can find cheaper accommodation, including property rental Balboa Park San Diego, but few places offer such a charming mixture of reasonable rates, comfortable lodgings, attractive setting and genuine sense of style and whimsy. At the bottom end of the rate scale are four smaller units that rent for $99 a night, all are clean and cozy with queen size beds and private bathrooms. Spend a bit more and you can select from a range of larger suites, some with kitchens and/or large whirlpool tubs.