THE NOBLE EXPERIEMENT

Thanks for visiting my blog. This is a collection of my favorite vintage and historical photos from in and around San Diego. Please feel free to contribute, either by leaving kind words or by submitting vintage pictures of your own. Thanks...

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Coronado Bridge Photo courtesy of Edgar Llerenas San Diego, CA c.1969

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Bali Hai San Diego, Ca c.1950's Photo Cred: Terry Walston

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The construction of the Coronado Bridge. From a post on Vintage San Diego https://www.facebook.com/businessinsider/posts/10153256181649071 San Diego, Ca 1968

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Looking north from the Ocean Beach Pier towards the Ocean Beach Hotel which (i think) was still called the San Vicente Hotel at the time. Notice there is no sea wall. San Diego, Ca 1979

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To the left is an artist rendition of Albert Spaldings park built at Sunset Cliffs around the time of the 1915 Panama California Exposition. Built for around 2 million dollars, it included gazebos, pathways, caves, Japanese-style rustic arched bridges, and a 15x50 pool carved into the sandstone that cleaned itself with every high tide. It was donated to the city under the condition that they must maintain it. They did not and the park fell into disrepair.

Today, if you look hard enough you can find the last remaining vestiges of Spalding’s dream. Pictured to the right is the last remaining evidence of one of the arched bridges that anchored to the cliffside. Other clues to the park are various concrete footings, the remains of the pool carved into sandstone and an awesome hidden cave complete with 2 staircases and a goonies-esq skull carved into the wall.

Next time you’re at Sunset Cliffs, look around! See if you can find other remnants of the park. If you can find ‘em, please share!

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Horton Plaza and US Grant Hotel as seen from 4th ave looking towards Broadway. Roughly in front of where Spike Africa’s is today.

San Diego, Ca 1965

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US Grant Hotel San Diego, Ca 1930

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2015 is your year! Make it a great one. Happy New Year from The Noble Experiment San Diego, CA 1/1/1912

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Christmas Time at Horton Plaza. Looking toward 4th from Broadway at what will soon once again be the park at Horton Plaza. San Diego, Ca c.1950's Photo Credit: The Vintage San Diego Facebook page. If anyone knows who took this, please message me so I can credit them.

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View from the 5th ave Financial Building at 5th and Laurel in the early 70's. This photo shows the YMCA, Police Headquarters, Tower Bowl, SDGE, Santa Fe Depot, Beakins, and even one of the South Coronado islands far off on the background. Photo Credit: Bill Reid

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The I-5 under construction near downtown. The El Cortez of to the right in the background.

Photo Credit: Ken McCleary

San Diego, Ca c.1965

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If you've ever been to the cliffs at the end of Del Monte in OB, you will notice a slanted concrete structure. That is the last remaining evidence of what was supposed to be the OB Pier that we know today. Started in 1941, it was going to stretch 2,000 feet to the kelp bed and be built from old railroad ties. However, WWII prevented its completion. Construction stopped after 300ft. 10 years later in 1951 it was condemned then torn down in 1953. Photo Credit: Howard Rozel

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If you've ever been to the cliffs at the end of Del Monte in OB, you will notice a slanted concrete structure. That is the last remaining evidence of what was supposed to be the OB Pier that we know today. Started in 1941, it was going to stretch 2,000 feet to the kelp bed and be built from old railroad ties. However, WWII prevented its completion. Construction stopped after 300ft. 10 years later in 1951 it was condemned then torn down in 1953. Photo Credit: Howard Rozel

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Shelter Island with the Downtown San Diego skyline in the background San Diego, Ca c.1970's Photo by: Bill Reid

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President Kennedy riding his motorcade down El Cajon Blvd (i think). on June 6, 1963

Photo Credit: UT San Diego File Photo

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Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis on location at the Hotel Del Coronado during the filming of "Some Like It Hot"

San Diego, Ca, 1959

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The intersection of Front St and Broadway in Downtown San Diego. The US Grant hotel visible on the left as well as the Spreckles Theater building on the right