106-583: Balboa Park may refer to: Balboa Park (San Diego) , an urban park in San Diego, California Balboa Park, San Francisco , a public park in San Francisco, California Balboa Park station , a San Francisco train station Anthony C. Beilenson Park , formerly Balboa Park, in the Lake Balboa neighborhood of Los Angeles, California Balboa Park, in
212-643: A disc golf course . Among the institutions and facilities within the park's borders but not administered by the city's Parks Department are the San Diego Zoo, the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), and San Diego High School . Other attractions in various areas of the park include chess and bridge outdoor tables, horseshoe pits , playgrounds, walking and jogging trails, sports fields and courts, and picnic areas. Clubs and facilities for pétanque and lawn bowling are based in
318-477: A nursery to propagate and grow for the park and the public. The park's gardens include Alcazar Garden , Botanical Building , Desert Cactus Garden , Casa del Rey Moro Garden, Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden , Japanese Friendship Garden , Bird Park, George W. Marston House and Gardens, Palm Canyon, and Zoro Garden . The main entrance to the park is via the Cabrillo Bridge and through
424-495: A Reception Center for sailors until 1944, when those activities were transferred to Camp Elliott ; this allowed for additional hospital expansion. It was returned to civilian authority in 1946, and repair costs to return the buildings and infrastructure to their pre-war status totaled $ 840,000, with the majority reimbursed by the Navy. In 1948, the funds were used to restore seven buildings that were deemed unsafe. A new addition to
530-532: A city-appointed committee hired an architect to review the buildings, and he determined that they could be restored by a slight margin over any costs to demolish the buildings. The necessary funds and materials for restoration were donated by San Diegans and the labor was financed by the federal government. Some of the buildings and infrastructure constructed for the Panama–California Exposition that still exist include: Balboa Park's second big event,
636-489: A fence around the zoo so that it could begin charging an entrance fee to offset costs. The publication ZooNooz commenced in early 1925. Animal collector Frank Buck went to work as director of the San Diego Zoo on June 13, 1923, signed to a three-year contract by Wegeforth. William T. Hornaday , director of the Bronx Zoo, had recommended Buck for the job, but Buck quickly clashed with the strong-willed Wegeforth and left
742-601: A few efforts at landscaping these cages; however, the monkeys notably lived in bleak, "prison-cell" like cages. Several Zoo members and guests left comments over the years regarding the exhibits and their lack of plant life, the (apparent) lack of enrichment for the monkeys, and, mostly, the appearance of cement "cell blocks" as exhibits. Monkey Trails is home primarily to monkeys such as the Angola colobus , tufted capuchin , De Brazza's monkey , lesser spot-nosed monkey , Black mangabey , Wolf's mona monkey , and mandrill . There
848-586: A long row of ramshackle firetraps." Several proposals were developed for converting buildings to museums and several groups attempted to have some of the park land sold to finance other projects. During both the Great War and World War II, the park was handed over to the Department of the Navy to be used as a barracks and training ground and was an extension of Naval Medical Center San Diego . By 1917, after $ 30,000 in repairs and modifications were made to
954-475: A name change in 1910 with the name “Balboa” becoming the reigning champion. The second theory made by Nancy Carol Carter, historian and former director of the Legal Research center at USD states that this theory is false. Through her research she discovered that the naming of the park was a four month long effort from the parks commissioners. In October of 1910 during a meeting, the commissioners decided on
1060-453: A nearly 2000-acre park located 30 miles northeast of the Zoo near Escondido , which features animals in more expansive, open areas than the zoo's urban 100 acres can provide. Exhibits are themed mainly around Asia, Africa, and Australia, with the five largest being 100- to 200-acre "savannas"; these mixed-species field exhibits feature grassy rolling hills, canyons, lakes, and rocky outcrops to give
1166-556: A new law called the "Act to Insure the Permanency of the Park Reservation", was passed by the state legislature, which said, "These lands (lots by number) are to be held in trust forever by the municipal authorities of said city for the purpose of a park". It was around this time that San Diego residents were developing fondness for the park, as illustrated by their insistence on keeping the park intact when in 1871 there
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#17327734069831272-497: A private party at the time, had to initiate a lockdown when two striped hyenas somehow got past their barriers. They were "darted with a sedative and taken to the veterinary care clinic." In 2014, a koala named Mundu escaped to a neighboring tree just outside its Koalafornia Australia Outback enclosure. Zookeepers lured him down the tree once the park closed that day. In early 2015, two Wolf's guenons monkeyed around outside of their Lost Forest enclosure after escaping. One of
1378-417: A reigning style for decades, and still the primary vernacular style in much of California. Goodhue's associate architect was Carleton M. Winslow, who is solely credited with the lattice-work Botanical Building and other structures. Goodhue's team, which included Kate Sessions and Lloyd Wright for landscape design , had won out over the local and more modernist Irving Gill to get the commission. One of
1484-402: A series of densely-planted paludarium - and riparium -style exhibits, complete with thick glass panels for close-up animal encounters. Monkey Trails utilized a newer concept for the displaying of arboreal animals; by making the exhibits two storeys high, with stairs, walkways, and elevators for access, the habits of animals can be observed from ground level as well as from the treetops. Some of
1590-519: A slight profit, which was donated to the San Diego Museum in the park. Roosevelt, approving of the buildings' architecture, recommended that the "buildings of rare phenomenal taste and beauty" be left as permanent additions. The majority of the buildings were only supposed to remain standing through 1916 and were not constructed with long-lasting materials. When the expo ended, several city discussions were held to determine what to do with
1696-614: A song entitled "Balboa Park" focusing on the unpleasant aspects of the park. One of the Old Globe Theatre's starring actors was stabbed to death in the middle of the day in February 1985. A 36-year-old woman was gang-raped and murdered in the park in June 1986. To counter the increase in crime, city officials expanded police patrols in the park, and many of the individual museums hired security guards. After two murders in 1993 and
1802-540: A telegraph button in Washington, D.C., to symbolically open the ceremonies by turning on the power at the park. Yellow and red were the themed colors of the event and were displayed throughout. All of the employees, workers, security people, and management staff were dressed in period Spanish and Mexican military uniforms, and much of the park was filled with plantings of exotic plants . Over 40,000 red Poinsettia plants, all in full bloom, were used. The event attracted
1908-521: A temporary outdoor stage, which was later upgraded to become one of the Globe's three theaters. The Old Globe Theatre itself was rebuilt and reopened in 1981. Queen Elizabeth II presented at the dedication ceremony for the theatre in 1983. Throughout the 1980s, there were multiple reports throughout Balboa Park of vandalism, murder, rape, arson, and minor petty crimes. The resulting negative publicity during this period inspired Bruce Springsteen to write
2014-548: A walking silver robot; and a strange new electrical device called a "television". Like the first exposition, the 1935 Fair was so successful it was extended for a second year. Opening ceremonies for the second season began when President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a gold telegraph key in the White House to turn on the exposition's lights. He later visited the exposition; other notable guests included Herbert Hoover , Mae West , and Jack Dempsey . Funded at $ 20 million,
2120-556: A zoo in San Diego? I believe I'll build one." A permanent tract of land in Balboa Park was set aside in August 1921; on the advice of the city attorney, it was agreed that the city would own all the animals and the zoo would manage them. The zoo began to move in the following year. In addition to the animals from the exposition, the zoo acquired a menagerie from the defunct Wonderland Amusement Park . Ellen Browning Scripps financed
2226-522: Is a narrow strip bordering Sixth Avenue on the western edge of the park, which provides areas of passive recreation, grassy spaces, and tree groves, and a camp for Camp Fire . The Central Mesa is home to much of the park's cultural facilities, and includes scout camps, the San Diego Zoo , the Prado, and Inspiration Point. East Mesa is home to Morley Field and many of the active recreation facilities in
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#17327734069832332-483: Is also a pair of pygmy hippopotamus named Elgon and Mabel, who share their underwater-viewing pond with a large school of African cichlids and tilapia . On April 9, 2020, Mabel gave birth to Akobi, a male calf. His birth marked the first pygmy hippo born at the zoo in nearly thirty years. Throughout the walking paths, visitors can also see West African slender-snouted crocodiles , different reptiles, and various African freshwater fish; these different animals live in
2438-408: Is built onto the side of an approx. 60' high canyon wall, being accessible via an entry/exit at the uppermost level and another at the lower end of the aviary (essentially the canyon floor). The walkway inside the aviary connects these entryways as it ascends and descends with the natural slope. The naturally steep location proves to be perfect for the exhibit's waterfall, which cascades downhill through
2544-540: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Balboa Park (San Diego) Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) historic urban cultural park in San Diego, California . Placed in reserve in 1835, the park's site is one of the oldest in the United States dedicated to public recreational use. The park hosts various museums, theaters, restaurants, and
2650-527: Is situated next to a complex of 20 smaller aviaries previously known as Wings of Australasia, exhibiting tropical birds from Southeast Asia and the Pacific. San Diego Zoo has the largest collection of birds in North America. Together the zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park hold America's most diverse collection of hornbills, with 15 species displayed in 2014. The San Diego Zoo had been one of four zoos in
2756-483: Is the start of the panda's breeding season, which one could speculate may have been the reason for the jailbreak." The San Diego Zoo is currently breeding the red pandas because of their status being labeled endangered on the IUCN Red List , there is thought to be less than 10,000 left in the world. Adira and Lucas said hello to their first little cub on June 9, 2023, this is the first baby red panda since 2006 for
2862-468: Is well suited to many plants and animals. The zoo is also an accredited botanical garden; the botanical collection includes more than 700,000 exotic plants. As part of its gardening effort, some rare animal foods are grown at the zoo. For example, 40 varieties of bamboo were raised for the pandas when they were at the zoo on long-term loan from China. It also maintains 18 varieties of eucalyptus trees to feed its koalas. Keepers and most other employees at
2968-469: The Alta California authorities set aside a 1,400-acre (570 ha) tract of pueblo land in San Diego to be used for the public's recreational purposes. This land included the site of present-day Balboa Park, making it one of the oldest places in the United States dedicated to public recreational usage. No further activity took place until 1845, when a survey was done by Henry D. Fitch to map
3074-530: The Anna's , Costa's , and Amazilia hummingbirds, along with other birds from South America such as bananaquits , crested quail-doves , golden-collared manakins , blue-necked tanagers , green-backed trogons , opal-rumped tanagers , paradise tanagers , swallow tanagers , turquoise tanagers , screaming pihas , violaceous euphonias , green honeycreepers , purple honeycreepers , red pileated finches , spangled cotingas and pompadour cotingas . Guests can view
3180-573: The California Pacific International Exposition , came in 1935. This Exposition was intended to promote the city and remedy San Diego's Great Depression ills. Balboa Park was reconfigured by San Diego architect Richard S. Requa , who also oversaw the design and construction of many new buildings, some to be permanent. Facilities added at that time and still in use include the Old Globe Theatre ,
3286-582: The California Quadrangle . That entry is currently a two-lane road providing vehicle access to the park. A plan to divert vehicle traffic around to the south of the California Quadrangle, so as to restore it as a pedestrian-only promenade, was dropped after legal challenges, but was reapproved after the legal challenges failed and was scheduled for completion in 2019. El Prado, a long, wide promenade and boulevard, runs through
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3392-480: The Chengdu Zoo formed a Chinese delegation to the United States to carry a pair of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys to the San Diego Zoo for a 13-day exhibition of snub-nosed monkeys. This was the first time that golden snub-nosed monkeys were exhibited abroad. In November 2023, China's President Xi Jinping hinted at the return of giant pandas to the zoo as a "gesture that China is ready to continue cooperation with
3498-550: The National Register of Historic Places . Balboa Park contains museums, gardens, attractions, and venues. The park is essentially rectangular, bounded by Sixth Avenue to the west, Upas Street to the north, 28th Street to the east, and Russ Boulevard to the south. The rectangle has been modified by the addition of the Marston Hills natural area in the northwest corner of the park, while the southwest corner of
3604-564: The National Register of Historic Places . The following year two historic park structures burned down in two separate arson fires: the Aerospace Museum in the former Electric Building, and the 1935 Old Globe Theatre . The Aerospace Museum (now the San Diego Air & Space Museum ) lost over $ 4 million in exhibits, and was reopened after moving into the old Ford Building . The Old Globe Theatre produced its 1978 season on
3710-648: The Panchimalco district of San Salvador, El Salvador "Balboa Park", a song by Bruce Springsteen on his 1995 album The Ghost of Tom Joad Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Balboa Park . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Balboa_Park&oldid=1127629886 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
3816-978: The San Diego Art Institute , the San Diego Model Railroad Museum , the San Diego Natural History Museum , the San Diego History Center , the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center , and the Timken Museum of Art . Other features along El Prado include the Reflection Pond, the latticed Botanical Building, and the Bea Evenson Fountain . Next to the promenade are the San Diego Air & Space Museum and
3922-654: The San Diego Automotive Museum . Theatrical and musical venues include the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, featuring one of the world's largest outdoor pipe organs; the Old Globe Theatre complex, which includes a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre as well as an outdoor stage and a theatre in the round ; and the Starlight Bowl – an outdoor amphitheatre . The Casa Del Prado Theater is the home of San Diego Junior Theatre,
4028-554: The San Diego Zoo . It is managed and maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Diego. Balboa Park hosted the 1915–16 Panama–California Exposition and 1935–36 California Pacific International Exposition , both of which left architectural landmarks. The park and its historic exposition buildings were declared a National Historic Landmark and National Historic Landmark District in 1977, and placed on
4134-711: The San Diego Zoo Safari Park . The San Diego Zoo grew out of exotic animal exhibitions abandoned after the 1915 Panama–California Exposition . Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth founded the Zoological Society of San Diego, meeting October 2, 1916, which initially followed precedents set by the New York Zoological Society at the Bronx Zoo . He served as president of the society until 1941. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to have
4240-737: The Spanish Colonial architecture created during the Spanish colonization era in New Spain-Mexico and the lower Americas, with Churrigueresque and Plateresque detailing "updating" the already popular Mission Revival style—to create the Spanish Colonial Revival style . The buildings and the style were extremely well received by the public and design professionals in California and nationally, becoming
4346-516: The Von Roll tramway company of Bern , Switzerland. The San Diego Zoo Skyfari is a Von Roll type 101. Exhibits at the zoo are often designed around a particular habitat . The same exhibit may feature many different animals that can be found side by side in the wild, along with native plant life. Exhibits range from an African rain forest (featuring gorillas) to the Arctic taiga and tundra in
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4452-841: The blue-crowned laughingthrush , white-rumped shamas , the maleo , Himalayan monal , Indian peafowl , and great argus pheasants. The Scripps Aviary was built in 1923 and is home to many colorful birds from Africa such as the violet-backed starling , African gray parrots , blue-bellied rollers , tambourine doves , great blue turacos , hamerkops , superb starlings , black-headed weavers , white-headed buffalo weavers , white-faced whistling ducks , African spoonbills , Madagascar crested ibises and southern bald ibises . The Parker Aviary houses various birds from South America including Andean cock-of-the-rocks , blue-crowned motmots , blue-headed macaws , crested oropendola , Inca terns , keel-billed toucans , ringed teals , sunbitterns and toco toucans as well as golden lion tamarins . It
4558-549: The 1915 opening of the Panama Canal . Davidson believed an expo would help improve commerce (it would advertise that San Diego was the first U.S. port of call vessels encountered after passing through the canal and sailing north), build the city's population, and expand the infrastructure of the park. He later explained the significance of holding the expo in San Diego: "I felt something must be done to get our city on
4664-419: The 1935–1936 event counted 6.7 million visitors—almost double the total of the 1915–16 exposition. At the conclusion of the expo, San Diegans voted again on what to do with the park and its buildings. Banker Joseph Sefton Jr. called for the buildings' removal, "They are hideous and badly placed. Had we torn out the 1915 exposition buildings and landscaped the park we would have a beautiful place there now and not
4770-556: The 1950s. Surrounding the park are many of San Diego's older neighborhoods, including Downtown , Bankers Hill , North Park , and Golden Hill . Balboa Park is a primary attraction in San Diego and the region. Its many mature, and sometimes rare, trees and groves comprise an urban forest . Many of the original trees were planted by the renowned American landscape architect , botanist , plantswoman , and gardener Kate Sessions . An early proponent of drought tolerant and California native plants in garden design , Sessions established
4876-524: The 47,000 acres. Three years later, the Mexican government was forced by the Mexican–American War to cede Alta California, including San Diego, to the United States. On February 15, 1868, the city's Board of Trustees was asked to create a public park out of two 160-acre (65 ha) plots of land just northeast of the growing urban center of "New Town"—present-day Downtown San Diego . The request
4982-446: The City of San Diego. It houses over 12,000 animals of more than 680 species and subspecies . It is the most visited zoo in the United States; travelers have cited it as one of the best zoos in the world. Its parent organization, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance , is a private nonprofit conservation organization and has one of the largest zoological membership associations in the world. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance also operates
5088-724: The El Prado side. Located in the eastern third of the park is Morley Field Sports Complex , which includes the Balboa Park Golf Complex, which contains a public 18-hole golf course and 9-hole executive course; the San Diego Velodrome ; baseball and softball fields; cross country running course; the USTA -honored Balboa Tennis Club and tennis courts; archery ranges; the Bud Kearn public swimming pool; and
5194-598: The International Cottages, and the Spanish Village. The 1935 Exposition left behind colorful stories of its exhibits and entertainments. The Gold Gulch was a forerunner of the many "frontier town" themed areas of later amusement parks. The controversial Zoro Garden Nudist Colony , "Midget Village", and sideshow entertainments including fan dancer Sally Rand added to the lore. The Exposition also provided visitors with early glimpses of 'Alpha',
5300-553: The Panama Canal opening, the majority of the funds went to the San Francisco expo. In anticipation of the exposition, many of San Diego's business and city leaders began to develop separate plans for the park. John D. Spreckels , owner of the San Diego Electric Railway , wanted to shift the location of the main public plaza to add room for exhibitors — and to allow his streetcar system to traverse
5406-461: The Plunge include reindeer , arctic foxes , racoons , eurasian lynx and an underwater viewing area is available to observe the polar bears swimming in their 130,000-US-gallon (490,000 L) pool. Farther down the path lies an aviary with several species of diving ducks . Some of the horticultural highlights include giant redwood trees , many different pine trees , and manzanita . Just up
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#17327734069835512-417: The San Diego Zoo are members of Teamsters Union Local 481. Monkey Trails showcases primates and other animals native to the tropical rainforests of Asia and Africa. Opening in 2005, it replaced a decades-old area of exhibits known as Ape and Bird Mesa . These were some of the oldest animal "houses" still in use (at the time) at the San Diego Zoo, being built in the 1930s, with little to no change until
5618-454: The San Diego Zoo. The hope for saving red pandas has also sparked lots of attention from the people because of the new movie Turning Red, which highlights red pandas as its main character and theme. The zoo offers a guided tour bus that traverses 75% of the park. There is also an overhead gondola lift called the Skyfari, providing an aerial view of the zoo. The Skyfari was built in 1969 by
5724-460: The U.S. on panda conservation." In June 2024, a pair of pandas, named Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, were loaned to the zoo. The two giant pandas made their debut at the San Diego Zoo on August 8, 2024. The Urban Jungle houses different animals including a small herd of Masai giraffes , Soemmerring's gazelles , American flamingos , a Grant's zebra , a miniature donkey and Indian rhinoceroses . Many of
5830-485: The U.S. that had giant pandas on display and had been the most successful in terms of panda reproduction. The first two giant panda cubs in U.S. history to have been born in the U.S. and survive into adulthood— Hua Mei (female, born to Bai Yun and Shi Shi ) and Mei Sheng (male, born to Bai Yun and Gao Gao )—were born at the zoo, in 1999 and 2003, respectively. After that, three more giant panda cubs— Su Lin and Zhen Zhen (both females) and Yun Zi (male) —were born to
5936-853: The Wildlife Explorers Basecamp was built on the site of the historic Children's Zoo, allowing children to get closer to several animals and also includes interactive play opportunities and sculptures. There are 4 main zones in the basecamp that feature wildlife that lives in the 4 main ecosystems: Desert Dunes, Wild Woods, Marsh Meadows, and The Rainforest. The Rainforest includes Naked Mole Rats , Goats, binturong , Burmese star tortoises , sloths , caracals , ocelots , wombats , Brazilian porcupines and southern tamanduas . Desert Dunes includes black-tailed prairie dogs , burrowing owls , and fennec foxes . Wild Woods includes squirrel monkeys and coatis . A small aviary that, as of July 2022, includes three species of hummingbirds ,
6042-532: The Zoo's animal ambassadors live there including a binturong , southern ground hornbills , red kangaroos , fennec foxes , South African cheetahs and Cape porcupines . Polar Bear Plunge, which opened in 1996, and was renovated in March 2010, houses over 30 species representing the Arctic . The main animals in the area are the three polar bears, named Kalluk, Chinook, and Tatqiq. More animals that make their home in
6148-459: The animals a more naturalistic, enriching home. This approach has brought the Safari Park much-breeding success, and (in an effort to maintain fresh bloodlines) animals are regularly relocated between the two locations. The San Diego facilities also actively exchange animals with other zoos around the world, in accordance with Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommendations. San Diego has one of
6254-416: The aviary before splashing down into a large pond. The ambient white noise of the waterfall is quite noticeable, but relaxing and tranquil, rather than very loud. The waterfall churns up mist, and cool steam fills the aviary with ambient humidity; additionally, the outside of the structure is painted a dark green color, which helps to block any excess sunlight from penetrating inside. This further gives visitors
6360-825: The birds from an observation bridge, and the aviary also includes a cenote pool. Wattled jacanas can also be seen in the aviary. The McKinney Spineless Marvels features naked mole-rats and a large invertebrate collection consisting of Central American giant cave cockroaches , Madagascar hissing cockroaches , leafcutter ants , Goliath beetles , giant dead leaf mantises , ghost mantises , two-spotted assassin bugs , giant African millipedes , giant desert hairy scorpions , golden silk orb-weavers , Antilles pinktoe tarantulas , Brazilian black tarantulas , Mexican fireleg tarantulas , golden-eyed stick insects , goliath stick insects , jungle nymphs , thorny devil stick insects and western honey bees . This two-story building houses fish, invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians. Some of
6466-453: The buildings were kept. Donated funds allowed for improvements to the buildings' integrity and interiors. During World War II, the park was renamed Camp Kidd , after Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd . Buildings within the park were used for multiple purposes, including hospital wards, training facilities, and barracks . After the attack on Pearl Harbor , many of the wounded were transported to Camp Kidd's hospital wards. Camp Kidd also served as
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#17327734069836572-787: The buildings. Goodhue recommended demolishing the buildings, saying "They are now crumbling, disintegrating and altogether unlovely structures, structures that lack any of the venerability of age and present only its pathos, and the space they occupy could readily be made into one of the most beautiful public gardens in the New World." Joseph W. Sefton Jr., president of the Society of Natural History, also called for their demolition, citing fire hazards: "All those old exposition buildings are nothing but fire traps. ... They are pretty to look at, but we may wake up any morning and find them gone, and our million dollars['] worth of exhibits with them." However,
6678-569: The city and private charities such as the Committee of 100 undertook a major effort to restore the park's historic buildings. Most of the original Exposition buildings were continuing to deteriorate with some lacking foundations and minimal structural support. By the 1990s some of the Prado buildings were deteriorating so badly that "pieces of plaster regularly fell off the walls." Several crumbling buildings were torn down and replaced with permanent structures which were carefully detailed to maintain
6784-568: The closing of Panda Trek, the exhibit had been repurposed to display other Chinese animals, including golden takins , red pandas , Mang Mountain pit vipers , Amur leopards , snow leopards and an exhibit comparing several types of bamboo. In November 1984, the Chinese Wildlife Protection Association, the Ministry of Urban and Rural Construction and Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Forestry, and
6890-506: The country's oldest children's theatre program. The House of Pacific Relations International Cottages collected on El Prado offer free entertainment shows. The Botanical Building, designed by Carleton Winslow , was the largest wood lath structure in the world when it was built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition. It contains large specimen palms and other plants and sits next to a long reflecting pool on
6996-437: The demolition of Monkey Trails. In addition to a few small bird aviaries and a troop of siamang apes living on a treehouse in the center of a pond, the site was centered around two square buildings; these plain structures contained many small exhibits lined up, one after another, on all four sides. One of the buildings was focused on monkeys, while the other was mainly songbirds, parrots, and tropical avian species. There had been
7102-663: The different varieties of native and exotic plants in the park. Her work was so progressive that she was in fact the first woman awarded the Meyer Medal for "foreign plant importation" by the American Genetic Association . Other developments from this time include two reservoirs, an animal pound in Pound Canyon (later renamed Cabrillo Canyon), and a gunpowder magazine in the area now known as Florida Canyon. The earliest recreational developments in
7208-607: The exhibition buildings. Several new museums opened during the 1960s and 1970s: the Timken Museum of Art in 1965, the Centro Cultural de la Raza in 1970, and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in 1973. The 1915–1916 exposition's Food and Beverage Building was rebuilt and reopened in 1971 as Casa del Prado. Balboa Park, and the historic Exposition buildings, were declared a National Historic Landmark and National Historic Landmark District in 1977, and placed on
7314-430: The expo; he made major decisions such as locating the expo on the park's central mesa, using California Mission Revival Style architecture for the buildings, and featuring "human progress" as the theme. A similar fair, the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition , was also planned in "far to the north" San Francisco to celebrate the canal opening. Although $ 5 million had been set aside by Congress for celebrations of
7420-524: The feeling of walking through a lush, dense jungle. The entire aviary is lushly landscaped and thick with palms, ficus, Araceae species (such as Monstera deliciosa and Thaumatophyllum ), Clivia sp., ferns and many more varieties. The varied collection of bird life includes the Chinese hwamei , eclectus parrot , black-naped fruit doves , common emerald doves , red-billed leiothrix , Victoria crowned pigeons , Bali mynas , Nicobar pigeons ,
7526-422: The horticultural highlights of Monkey Trails include several massive Banyan fig ( Ficus ) trees (viewable in public areas as well as in animal exhibits), cycads , and a bog garden with Sarracenia , Drosera , Venus flytraps and other carnivorous plants . The Owens Aviary contains about 200 individual tropical birds from around 45 species, mainly from Australasia , Oceania, and Papua New Guinea . The aviary
7632-401: The map and advertise it to the rest of the world. I knew we had something here that no other city had, and that all that was necessary was for the people to know about it." It has been long debated as to how Balboa Park’s name changed from City Park to Balboa Park. The most popular theory states that in order to prepare for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, city officials held a contest for
7738-473: The monkeys neared a fence line off of Route 163 , but was brought back to safety without injury. Adira is a 2-year-old female red panda, who also happens to be an escape artist. Over in Panda Canyon, Adira scaled a tree in her enclosure and escaped for 6 hrs on January 29, 2023. Luckily, Adira stayed close to home and was easily led back into her enclosure. A zoo social media account speculated, "January
7844-421: The most celebrated of these early usages was a 36-acre nursery owned and maintained by local horticulturist and botanist Kate Sessions, who is often referred to as "the mother of Balboa Park." Although owned by Sessions, by agreement with the city the nursery was open to the public, and Sessions donated trees and plants to the city every year for its beautification. Sessions is responsible for bringing in many of
7950-595: The most significant improvements to the park from that time was the construction of the Cabrillo Bridge across a major canyon in the city. The bridge connects the main portion of the park with the western portion and with Laurel Street. A lavish groundbreaking ceremony for the fair's construction was held in July 1911. On December 31, 1914, the Panama–California Exposition opened, with Balboa Park "crammed full" of spectators. President Woodrow Wilson pushed
8056-427: The name Balboa. San Diego would be the smallest city to ever hold a World's Fair; its population at the time was less than 40,000. The expo was organized by a group of San Diego business leaders, including Ulysses S. Grant Jr. , and was funded at an initial cost of $ 5 million (including $ 1 million from voter-approved bonds for landscaping). Developer and civic leader D. C. Collier was chosen as General Director of
8162-457: The national attention organizers had sought. Even Pennsylvania's Liberty Bell made a brief three-day appearance in November 1915. The event was such a success the fair was extended through 1916. Over the two years, it drew more than 3.7 million visitors, including Henry Ford , William Jennings Bryan , Thomas Edison , Theodore Roosevelt , and William Howard Taft . The expo actually turned
8268-456: The nickname "Terrible Trudy". In 1977, an animal control officer for the County of San Diego, Tom Van Wagner, a previous employee of the San Diego Zoo as a tour bus guide, captured a Tasmanian devil escapee in a south-central San Diego home's garage. The animal was transported to the zoo and the zoo hospital staff took possession of the capture. In March 2013, the zoo, which was hosting
8374-526: The old Federal Building. San Diego Zoo The San Diego Zoo is a zoo in San Diego, California , located in Balboa Park . It began with a collection of animals left over from the 1915 Panama–California Exposition that were brought together by its founder, Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth . The zoo was a pioneer in the concept of open-air, cage-less exhibits that recreate natural animal habitats. The zoo sits on 100 acres (40 ha) of land leased from
8480-587: The original appearance. The Science and Education Building and the Home Economy Building were demolished to make room for the expansion of two new wings for the Timken Museum of Art . The loss of these two buildings along with the Casa de Balboa , the House of Charm , and the House of Hospitality , resulted in the formation of the independent organization, Committee of One Hundred, to attempt to preserve
8586-544: The original buildings, over 5,000 U.S. troops were using the park for training. Coinciding with the Panama–California Exposition, the Commandant of the Marine Corps instructed 2nd Battalion of the newly established 4th Marines to represent the Marine Corps at the event. On December 19, 1914, Marine Barracks, Balboa Park , was established as the second, and during its period, and only Marine base in San Diego. It
8692-636: The park and extend to the North Park and University Heights neighborhoods. The Exposition's lead designer and site planner was architect Bertram Goodhue , well known for his Gothic Revival style churches in New York and Boston, who sought a regionally appropriate aesthetic to use in Southern California . Goodhue and associate architect Carleton Winslow chose to use the styles of highly ornamented Spanish Baroque architecture with
8798-898: The park during the post-war 1940s was the carillon in the California Tower (1946), which chimes the time every quarter-hour. The San Diego Junior Theater, a program of the Old Globe Theatre, was established in 1948, performing in the Prado Theatre. The amphitheater formerly known as the Ford Bowl became the Starlight Bowl , home of the Starlight Musical Theater (also known as the San Diego Civic Light Opera and as Starlight Opera), which performed Broadway musicals outdoors in
8904-612: The park were in the "Golden Hill Park" area off 25th street. The National Register listed the rustic stone fountain designed by architect Henry Lord Gay as the oldest surviving designed feature in the park. Other attractions in the area included a children's park, walking trails, and a redwood bird aviary . Indigenous Californians and Bajenos began to flock to the Kumeyaay village in Florida Canyon looking for work in San Diego during this period. A Native Californian urban exclave
9010-538: The park's center. Most of the buildings lining this street are in the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture style, a richly ornamented mixture of European Spanish architecture and the Spanish Colonial architecture of New Spain - Mexico . Along this boulevard are many of the park's museums and cultural attractions, including the Museum of Us , the San Diego Museum of Art , the Museum of Photographic Arts ,
9116-466: The park. The park is crossed by several freeways, which take up a total of 111 acres (0.45 km ) once designated for parkland. In 1948, State Route 163 was built through Cabrillo Canyon and under the Cabrillo Bridge . This stretch of road, initially named the Cabrillo Freeway, has been called one of America's most beautiful parkways. A portion of Interstate 5 was built in the park in
9222-474: The park. There is also Spanish Art Village which consists of art shops. Prior to the establishment of the park, the area was home to a Kumeyaay village informally known as Hatam's Village (or Hata'am) in Florida Canyon just south of what is now Naval Medical Center San Diego . Its existence survived the 1852 effort to remove Kumeyaay villages within half a mile of the city. The village was kept active under Jośe Manuel Polton, also known as Hatam, who transformed
9328-476: The path of Polar Bear Plunge is Northwest Passage, housing mountain lions , maned wolves , giant anteaters , Patagonian maras , gerenuk , bontebok , tufted deer , Grévy's zebras , musk deer , Cuvier's gazelle , lesser kudu , Speke's gazelles , Chacoan Peccarys , as well as the Eagle Canyon, home to Andean condors , harpy eagles , ornate hawk eagles and Steller's sea eagles . Opened in 2022,
9434-464: The rectangle is occupied by a portion of the Cortez Hill neighborhood of downtown San Diego and San Diego High School , both of which are separated from the park by Interstate 5 . Also encroaching on the northern perimeter of the park is Roosevelt Middle School. Two north-south canyons—Cabrillo Canyon and Florida Canyon—traverse the park and separate it into three mesas. The Sixth Avenue Mesa
9540-451: The resident giant panda parents Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Xiao Liwu (meaning "little gift"), was born on July 29, 2012, and was let outside for visitors to see on January 9, 2013. By 2015, all of the cubs had been sent back to China to participate in the breeding program there. By April 2019, the giant panda exhibit had closed. The pandas in the enclosure had been repatriated to China after successfully serving its conservation mission. Since
9646-510: The shooting of a young drama student walking across the Cabrillo Bridge in 1994, nighttime lighting in the park was increased, and video cameras were installed in several locations to allow park rangers and police to better monitor the area. In 1998, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center opened a larger building at its present location. The following year, the Hall of Champions Sports Museum moved to
9752-412: The summer. In 1959, the city hired an architectural firm to map out a plan for the park based on the suggestions of San Diegans along with the firm's recommendations. The initial review called for 13 of the original 1915 buildings to remain while replacing 11 others with new buildings in their place. The plan also called for adjusted roadways, additional landscaping, and improvements in parking. By 1967,
9858-620: The summertime (featuring polar bears ). Some of the largest free-flight aviaries in existence are here, including the Owens Aviary and the Scripps Aviary. Many exhibits are "natural", with invisible wires and darkened blinds (to view birds), and accessible pools and open-air moats (for large mammals). The San Diego Zoo also operates the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly the San Diego Wild Animal Park),
9964-404: The time, died at the zoo. In October 2020, two gorillas charged at the glass of their enclosure, damaging the outer pane. The San Diego Zoo has had several notable escapees through the years; the most noteworthy of them is Ken Allen , a Bornean orangutan who came to be known as "the hairy Houdini", for his many escapes. In 1940, a Malayan Tapir managed to escape several times, earning it
10070-411: The village into an urban Native American neighborhood for urbanized Native Californians and Baja Californians in San Diego seeking jobs. The neighborhood lasted into the 1890s through the advocacy of Hatam and his successor Juan Gonzales before it was dismantled and became Balboa Park. Spain and later Mexico made a practice of setting aside large tracts of land for the common use of citizens. In 1835,
10176-414: The world's largest and most diverse animal collections; however, the total number of animal species in the collection has been reduced somewhat over the past two decades (2000–2020), from around 860 to approximately 650. This comes as exhibits are redeveloped into more spacious, naturalistic areas, and as several animals are transitioned to the Safari Park. The temperate, sunny maritime climate of California
10282-479: The world. She was succeeded as director by Dr. Charles Schroeder. The San Diego Zoo was a pioneer in building "cageless" exhibits. Wegeforth was determined to create moated exhibits from the start, and the first lion area at the San Diego Zoo without enclosing wires opened in 1922. Until the 1960s, admission for children under 16 was free, regardless of whether they were accompanied by a paying adult. The zoo's Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES)
10388-418: The zoo after three months to return to animal collecting. After several other equally short-lived zoo directors, Wegeforth appointed the zoo's bookkeeper, Belle Benchley , to the position of executive secretary, in effect zoo director; she was given the actual title of zoo director a few years later. She served as zoo director from 1925 until 1953. For most of that time she was the only female zoo director in
10494-533: Was an attempt to overturn the state law so as to allow for private purchase of some of the park land. At the urging of would-be land speculators and the city attorney, State Senator James McCoy quietly introduced a bill in the California state legislature to repeal the 1870 law. A San Diego resident learned of the plan and informed higher powers at the state level in Sacramento, California . The conspiracy
10600-436: Was born September 1, 1997, at the San Diego Zoo and was named Onya-Birri, which means "ghost boy" in an Australian Aboriginal language . The San Diego Zoo has the largest number of koalas outside of Australia. In 2014, a colony of African penguins arrived for the first time in the zoo since 1979. They have since moved into Africa Rocks when it opened in 2017. In 2016, Baba, the last pangolin on display in North America at
10706-420: Was built up in the canyon, which lasted up until the 1900s when the neighborhood was torn down in preparation for the Panama–California Exposition. Preparations for the 1915 Panama–California Exposition created much of the park's present-day look-and-feel and designed amenities. Beginning in 1909, San Diego Chamber of Commerce president G. Aubrey Davidson suggested that the park hold an expo to coincide with
10812-558: Was established by Marines under the command of Colonel Pendleton . It remained in place until 1921, when a more permanent base was established in Dutch Flats , itself a predecessor of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego . Under the conditions of usage, upon closing, the Marine Corps returned the buildings they had used in the exact condition that they had received them. Although some buildings were scheduled to be demolished due to disrepair, several San Diego groups organized to ensure
10918-520: Was founded in 1975 at the urging of Kurt Benirschke , who became its first director. In 2005, CRES was renamed the Division of Conservation and Research for Endangered Species under newly appointed director Allison Alberts to better reflect its mission. In 2009, CRES was significantly expanded to become the Institute for Conservation Research. The world's only albino koala in a zoological facility
11024-514: Was home to bobcats, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and other wildlife. Numerous proposals, some altruistic, some profit-driven, were brought forward for the development and use of the land during this time, but no comprehensive plan for development was adopted until 1902. Nevertheless, some buildings were constructed, including an orphanage and women's shelter (later burned down), a high school (Russ High School – later San Diego High School ), and several gardens maintained by various private groups. One of
11130-512: Was leaked to the press, exposing the city officials involved. A public safety committee formed and collected signatures supporting the current existence of the park. Their plea was successful and the bill was killed in the legislature. San Diego was the second city in the U.S. to dedicate a large park after New York City's 1858 establishment of Central Park . For the first few decades of its existence, "City Park" remained mostly open space. The land, lacking trees and covered in native wildflowers,
11236-497: Was made by one of the Trustees, E. W. Morse , who had picked the site in coordination with real estate developer Alonzo Horton . There is a sculptural group of Horton, Marston, and Morse by Ruth Hayward in the park. Subsequently, a resolution to set aside for a large city park not just two plots of land, but nine plots totaling 1,400 acres (570 ha), was approved by the city's Board of Trustees on May 26, 1868. Then in 1870,
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