Balboa Park Museums

I drove down to San Diego with son Brett and daughter–in–law Sharon for son Keith’s wedding. We had some time for sightseeing between wedding events, so Brett and I went to Balboa Park as he had never seen the fabulous museums buildings there. We know we were in San Diego, but the Spanish Renaissance–style architecture of the museum buildings was telling our eyes that we must surely be in Spain. California has numerous Spanish–style buildings, but almost all, except for these museum buildings and maybe a few others, are in the Spanish Mission Revival Style which was taken from the California missions.

1915-16 Panama-California Exposition

Postcard of advertisement for the 1915–16 Panama–California Exposition, which commenorated the opening of the Panama Canal. The Spanish Renaissance buildings were constructed specifically for that exposition, and, today, most are used for 15 major museums.

Archway

Top of the archway leading to the Museum of Man.

Museum of Man

The Museum of Man (of anthropology) in under the 200–foot California Tower. The dome is spectacular. The tower and the dome are known together as the California Building.

California Tower

The top of the California Tower.

California Tower

Note the ship on top of the tower.

The Dome

Top of the dome.

Museum Complex

One of the many archways in the museum complex.

Museum Complex

Bas relief of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the Spanish conquistador and explorer who was the first European to see the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean after crossing the Isthmus of Panama in 1513. Balboa Park is, of course, named after him. But it was Ferdinand Magellan who named the Pacific (peaceful) Ocean in 1520.

The Prado

There is a great restaurant in the Prado, where you can sit outside and watch the planes on their approach to Lindbergh Field.

The Prado

Close–up of the Prado.

The Prado

Courtyard in the Prado. I got the idea of hanging Mexican pots like the ones in the photo on my balcony railing from how they were hung here.

El Cid Statue

Keeping with the Spanish theme, a statue of El Cid, the 11th–century Castilian nobleman, military leader, and diplomat and national hero of Spain.

Nikigator

A Gaudi–like mosiac “Nikigator” in front of the Mingli International Museum. You see statues like this in Barcelona.

Nikigator

Another view of “Nikigator.”

Statue

Another mosaic statue in front of the Mingli International Museum.

Water Fountain

An old–fashioned water fountain––I would guess from Spain.

Botanical Building

The Botanical Building and the Lily Pond were also constructed for the 1915–16 Exposition.

Lily Pond

Some lilies.

Lily Pond

More lilies.

Botanical Building

Lily Pond

Opposite view from the lily pond. I believe we are looking at the Casa de Balboa.

Casa de Balboa

Close–up of the Casa de Balboa.

Museum of San Diego History

The Museum of San Diego History.

San Diego Museum of Art

I didn’t take a full photo of the San Diego Museum of Art, just parts of it. Very European looking with its statues.

San Diego Museum of Art

Its middle.

San Diego Museum of Art

Its top. Plan at least a couple of hours’ time here just to walk around to view the museum buildings and for lunch or dinner at the Prado. Plan many more hours to visit inside the museums.

World Beat Center

On our way in search of the freeway, still in Balboa Park, we passed the World Beat Center, which is dedicated “to promoting African, African–American, and idigenous cultures of the world through art and music.” Its building used to be a water tower.

World Beat Center

More murals.

World Beat Center

And more.

Centro Cultural de la Raza

Very close to the World Beat Center is the Centro Cultural de la Raza, also looking like it is housed in a former water tower. The Centro promotes Latino art and culture. Murals on the water tower.

Centro Cultural de la Raza

Very expressive Native American in this mural. From Balboa Park, Brett and I drove to Old Town San Diego. Photos of it on the next album.