Photos

Baloboa Park is one of my favorite places in San Diego. It is home to the San Diego Zoo as well as many museums.

A brief history of the Park: In 1868 a 1,400-acre tract of land was set aside by City leaders for a public park. 1910 A contest was held to rename City Park. The winning entry was Balboa Park, suggested because the Park offered a wide view of the Pacific Ocean, and explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa was the first European to see the Pacific.

1915–1916 The Panama-California Exposition, honoring the completion of the Panama Canal, was held in the Park. The purpose of the Expo was "to illustrate the progress and possibility of the human race...." Displays and demonstrations included the latest in agricultural, industrial, horticultural, and technological inventions and refinements.

The Spanish Colonial Revival style prevailed in the building designs for this Expo, which were undertaken by the well-known architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue. Completed for this exposition were Cabrillo Bridge, the California Building, the House of Charm, the House of Hospitality, the Casa de Balboa, the Casa del Prado, the Balboa Park Club, the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, the Botanical Building, and Alcazar Garden. The California Building and Spreckels Organ Pavilion were the only buildings designed for permanent use. Source

One activity in Balboa Park is lawn Bowling