San Diego's pride - Balboa Park
by Alexandra Till
Title
San Diego's pride - Balboa Park
Artist
Alexandra Till
Medium
Photograph - Photographs - Prints - Digital Images - Cards - Posters - Photo-calendars - Photo Art
Description
© Christine Till
Twelve-hundred-acre Balboa Park, located just northeast of downtown, is San Diego's pride. Established in 1868 and largely developed for two expositions - the 1915-16 Panama-California and the 1935-36 California Pacific International - it remains a thriving component of the city, with museums, gardens, unique shopping, and the San Diego Zoo at its heart.
The California Tower and the dome of the California Building in Balboa Park are both decorated in inlaid blue, green, gold, black, and white ceramic tiles. The tower is part of the San Diego Museum of Man. The design of the facade of the California Building is taken from that of the Cathedral of Mexico in Mexico City. The California Tower rises 200 feet. At its top is a weather vane in the shape of a Spanish ship similar to Cabrillo's. Inside the tower, a 100-bell symphonic carillon plays the standard Westminster chimes every quarter hour and a five minute recital at noon. The bells are operated from two keyboards on the third floor of the California Building. Usually they are played automatically with reels similar to those of a player piano. Occasionally, however, a carillonneur presents a live recital.
A free red trolley tram circuits the park every ten minutes.
Uploaded
April 21st, 2014
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