theA PUBLICATION OF THE SANTIMES DIEGO HISTORY CENTER VOL. 60, NO. 1, SPRING 2020

UNCOVERING HISTORY

INSIDE A LOCAL ARCHAEOLOGIST’S MISSION TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT A PALOMAR MOUNTAIN LEGEND theCONTENTS INSIDE SDHC Nathan Harrison at his 01 Membership news, 1649 El Prado, Suite 3 homestead, c. 1916 San Diego, CA 92101-1664 community partnerships, and sandiegohistory.org how a local historian gave sandiegohistorycenter back to the History Center BOARD OF TRUSTEES John Morrell, Chair Joe Craver, Vice Chair THE MOMENTS Debra Cushman Parrish, Vice Chair Fashion People, places, Robert Watkins, Vice Chair 03 Ellis Smith, Treasurer objects, and events that made Allan Wasserman, Secretary San Diego history Thompson Fetter, Immediate Past Chair Robert Adelizzi, Chair Emeritus Hal Sadler, Chair Emeritus UNCOVERING Richard Bregante, John Brockington, What’s old is new again HISTORY Josh Buchholz, Ray Carpenter, Redux 08 Brian Chambers, Erin Chambers Smith, at Mesa College Archaeologist Seth Mallios Julie Connolly, Bonnie Fletcher, and SDSU students excavate Gayle Hom, Charles Kaminski, ince 2012, Mesa College fashion students Helen Kinnaird, Brian Mooney, D Nathan Harrison's homestead Julie Novak, Thomas Sayer Jr., have been reimagining pieces from the San James Siegel, Charles Van Vechten, Diego History Center’s clothing collection. Margie Warner I WAS THERE This year’s class pulled inspiration from the PRESIDENT AND CEO Sdecade of leisure suits and disco decadence, the ’70s. 12 Former zoo director Bill Lawrence Chuck Bieler on the Wild VP OF COMMUNITY Here, assistant professor of fashion Jordyn Smiley Animal Park's grand opening ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, and students Arantxa Akerlundh, Suzan Peterson, AND COLLECTIONS and Marine Weiss shed some light on the process. Tina Zarpour, PhD CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Wendy McKinney How can dated garments be reinterpreted to ON THE COVER SENIOR PHOTO ARCHIVIST feel modern? Chris Travers SMILEY: A designer can be inspired by the silhouette Top: Harrison and his cabin of a period garment, but reinterpret it by making Bottom: Cabin dig site, 2006 ARCHIVIST, DOCUMENTS Renato Rodriguez it out of a modern fabric. Or they could re-create AERIAL PHOTO BY SETH MALLIOS a certain specific element, such as the shape of Unless otherwise noted, all historical photos appear courtesy of the History the sleeves or the ruffles on a skirt, but change the Center Photograph Collection. rest. A designer could even create a completely new WELCOME garment out of a fabric that is similar to the period garment. The possibilities are endless. Starting Anew CUSTOM CONTENT What about the garments inspired you? 707 Broadway, Suite 1100 PETERSON: The colors and patterns of the ’70s were San Diego, CA 92101 bright and playful. The garments were not dictated SAN DIEGO IS MORE THAN THE MARKETING 619-230-9292 | sdmagmedia.com by one style—there were minis, maxis, full and SLOGAN OF "SUN, SAND, AND SURF." It’s CEO AND PUBLISHER tailored looks. Jim Fitzpatrick a dynamo of opportunity and reinvention that AKERLUNDH: What first captivated me was the ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER goes to the heart of our community’s DNA. Karen Mullen silhouette of the garments. The ’70s were an important This year, the Times will unveil plans for the CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER and liberating era for women, and such is present in new San Diego History Center in Balboa Park, Erin Chambers Smith the tall and slender yet empowering silhouette. It’s where we commemorate the past and celebrate PROJECT MANAGER neither feminine nor masculine; it’s a perfect balance. what makes our region unique—where we come Kyra Hillenmeyer together and connect as community. SENIOR ART DIRECTOR What was your favorite part? Hannah Rhodes In this issue we highlight Nathan Harrison. WEISS: I loved the idea of getting my inspiration ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR His story, of being born into slavery yet set- Rebecca Wilson from historical garments and trying to honor them tling here for a new life, is a touchstone of our JUNIOR DESIGNER with a 2020s vibe. region’s African American history. Developed Katie Zychowicz in partnership with SDSU archaeologist Seth CUSTOM CONTENT EDITOR What can we learn from vintage designs? Mallios, a new exhibition at SDHC shares excavat- Sarah Sapeda SMILEY: Studying styles from the past gives us an ed discoveries from Harrison’s homestead and his- BILL LAWRENCE CUSTOM CONTENT PRODUCER insight into not just what the trends of the time Chase Scheinbaum torical accounts with new insights into his legacy. PRESIDENT AND CEO, were, but who people were. It helps us gain a better SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER COPY CHIEF SDHC would not be successful without your Dan Letchworth understanding of history in general, and repeating support. We look forward to seeing you at our For advertising inquiries, contact certain trends or styles from the past can help a museums in Balboa Park and Presidio Park. [email protected] Photos by Chris Travers designer communicate a message in today’s fashion.

SPRING 2020 SANDIEGOHISTORY.ORG 2 insideSDHC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT DONATION Brewed book will include the eight-year-old Kate Sessions, who has the same curious and direct gaze as the adult Sessions.” with WWII Rare The pair also produced an image of Sessions after her college graduation, showing her mother’s flourishing garden, History which she would later cite as an influence. Finds “I just kept going back and ordering more.” San Diego History Center’s craft In all, the duo produced some 25 images A historian donates $1,000 beer partners at Little Miss perfect for Carter’s purposes. “They helped Brewing are avid history buffs for images “unavailable from me find some different and unusual photos any other source” people will really enjoy,” she says. “The quality of the work With names like “Hoperation Overlord” and “B-17,” the past aving written several Kate Sessions was excellent. There articles on San Diego were no mistakes. bubbles up in this World War II– history, when Nancy They did their work themed brewery’s lineup. History Carol Carter began so professionally pairs well with a fine drink— compiling a forthcoming and capably.” something Little Miss Brewing volume of Kate Sessions’ For their efforts, takes to heart as SDHC’s craft complete writings, she knew Carter donated beer partner. It donated its $1,000 to SDHC. just where to turn: San Diego P.O.W. Pale Ale and other brews “In my research, History Center’s archives. for History Happy Hour, This time, she wanted rare I’ve found both the held at the History and unfamiliar images of “the photo and docu- Mother of Balboa Park.” ment archives offer Center during Balboa “I was looking for photos materials unavailable Park’s Food Truck that may not have been published from any other source,” she Fridays and the before,” says Carter. She is creating says. “When I came to San park's popular annual the book with a team from the San THE HISTORY Diego 30 years ago, I loved December Nights Diego Floral Association. Coming CENTER learning about local history celebration. to her aid were Photo Archivist HELPED ME because it’s so foundational Greg Malkin, who Carol Myers and Digital Imaging FIND SOME for the United States, owns the Miramar Specialist Natalie Fiocre. The SDHC and the History Center is brewery with his wife, employees dug up some gems. “The DIFFERENT preserving and promoting Jade Mishner, estimates History Center has photos taken & UNUSUAL an appreciation of that when she was quite young, so our PHOTOS. history.” that they provided the equivalent of 320 12-ounce pours for each of 15 Fridays last summer. “We’re all about history,” he says. Their flagship brewery and four CLARIFICATION & CORRECTION satellite tasting rooms are each On page 10 of the fall 2019 issue of the Times, a timeline date of 75,000 BCE read, “Human presence in the San decorated with propaganda from Diego region stretches back to at least the Late Pleistocene, and possibly far longer by earlier hominids.” This date a different Allied country: the requires some correction and explanation. The question of when the peopling of the Americas occurred has long been the subject of intense debate and United States, Great Britain, the scrutiny, both in popular media and within the scientific community. Dates of initial habitation are continuously USSR, France, and Canada. They being revisited and shift as new evidence comes to light. For example, from the 1950s to the 1980s archaeologists using dating methods like carbon-14 and amino acid racemization at various sites such as Texas Street (San plan to open a new tasting room Diego River Valley), and at La Jolla and Torrey Pines have provided dates ranging as far back as 60,000 years ago. with a general 1940s theme, and However, these Late Pleistocene dates have since been discredited by the archaeological community. who better to inform their deco- The Cerutti mastodon find in the South Bay by San Diego Natural History Museum scientists, widely publicized in a 2017 issue of the journal Nature, suggested human butchery marks on mastodon bones dating to 130,000 years rative choices than SDHC? ago, far older that the scientific consensus for habitation of the New World. “We’re working with them to Additionally, in recent years the “kelp highway hypothesis”—regarding a coastal migration from Beringia down the coast to Central and South America—has been gaining ground as a way of explaining how people initially get copies of historical images populated the New World, and disrupted the long-standing “Bering Strait” hypothesis. Based upon archaeological or any guidance they can give and genetic research, the current scientific consensus points to human occupation in the New World no earlier than 16,000 years BP (before the present). us,” says Malkin. “We try to keep Humans—ancestors of the Kumeyaay and other groups of California Indians—have lived in this region for at things fun but have some historical least 12,000 years, long before paper record keeping. Their marks on the landscape and material culture left behind are the evidence archaeologists use to date their presence. It is also important to note that in the conception of the context, too. It’s going one step Kumeyaay people, they have lived in this region since time immemorial. beyond just being a brewery.”

2 THE TIMES SPRING 2020 Interesting Ideas, Fun Facts, and Pivotal Points in San Diego History theMOMENTS

Astronomer Edwin Hubble, seen here c. 1937, was the first person to use the 200-inch Hale Telescope.

EYE ON THE SKY Beneath Palomar Observatory’s iconic dome, astronomers from around the world gaze into the heavens in search of new discoveries that shape the way we see the universe. In 1928, following construction of large-scale telescopes at Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin and Mount Wilson Observatory outside Los Angeles, astronomer and Caltech cofounder George Ellery Hale won a $6 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to build an even larger one. Palomar Mountain was selected for the location due to the clarity of its night skies. Hale's team turned to Corning Glass Works and its revolutionary new material Pyrex to construct the mirror blank. The first attempt was a failure, but in 1948 Hale's dream was finally realized and his namesake 200-inch reflecting telescope went into operation—a decade after his death. It remained the largest optical telescope in the world until 1975, and the observatory remains an active research center today.

SPRING 2020 SANDIEGOHISTORY.ORG 3 theMOMENTS

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NEIGHBORHOODS 78

Escondido Celebration of the completion of GRAPE DAY, ESCONDIDO MARKET STREET PAVING, 1928 Escondido 1910

IN THE SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD, city—population 500 or so—was incor- ENCANTO, c. 1925 this shallow valley lay beyond control of porated. By the end of the century, citrus 5 any mission, earning it the handle Rincón groves, avocado trees and grapevines were del Diablo, The Devil’s Corner. In 1843, producing a bountiful harvest. it was part of a land grant given to Juan In 1972, coinciding with the opening Bautista Alvarado, then-governor of Las of what was then called the Wild Animal Californias. (Its Spanish name, meaning Park, the growing city began evolving “hidden,” may refer to a secluded spring.) into a hub of arts and culture. Today, its Nearby San Pasqual Valley was the site denizens include the California Center for of one of the bloodiest encounters of the the Arts, San Diego Children’s Discovery Mexican American War, and now a state Museum, and of course, the company cred- 15 historic park commemorates the lives lost ited with landing the region on the craft on on December 6, 1846 in a battle between beer map, Stone Brewing. 56 U.S. forces (led by General Stephen Watts Kearny) and Californio forces (led IMPERIAL AVENUE, 1924 by General Andrés Pico). Both generals claimed victory. Also in Escondido is Kit Carson Park, named for the famous scout associated with several key events in the Unites States’ westward expansion. In 1887, the Santa Fe Railway laid tracks 5 Encanto to Escondido, where an impressive 100- 52 room hotel went up. The next year, the LEGEND HAS IT THAT IN 1880, Ella east San Diego were generally less restric- Klauber, daughter of Bohemia-born pio- tive. Its suburban farmland attracted 805 neering San Diego retailer Abraham Japanese farmers in the years before internment. After World War II, African 15 Klauber, was scouring a Spanish diction- ary for a way to describe her family’s Americans sought out more integrated 3,350-acre lot. In the Es, she spotted it: areas to buy homes. In the ’90s, the Wat 163 8 encanto, Spanish for “enchantment.” Lao Boubpharam Buddhist temple opened Trains began rolling through a few to serve the city’s Laotian community. GRAPE PICKERS, no date years later, then automobiles, bringing Business owner Don Dauphin told ENCANTO more and more people. Between 1911 and Susan Vaughn of the San Diego Reader 5 ESCONDIDO, 1913, Encanto’s population had grown in 1998: “There’s good people here. It westward view, 1895 from 120 to 285 and the self-sufficient doesn’t matter if you’re black or white, town had sprouted a few stores, a post people treat you the same—nicely.” office, a school, and a pool hall. The Encanto remains one of San Diego’s 805 neighborhood was annexed to the city of most diverse neighborhoods, and one of San Diego in 1916. the most affordable: The Union-Tribune­ Encanto continued to grow and become notes that its median home price, more diverse in the following decades, $425,000, is well below the average for Escondido GRAPE likely because racial covenants in South- single-family homes citywide, $573,500. DAY Event, 1939 5

4 THE TIMES SPRING 2020 SPRING 2020 SANDIEGOHISTORY.ORG 5 theMOMENTS

FROM THE COLLECTION TEAM SDHC Behind Closed Doors To Engage the After decades out of sight, these remarkable doors are open to all YEAR IN REVIEW Community In her new role as SDHC's chief development officer, Wendy McKinney draws FTER A FIRE DEVASTATED Carved by the artist Reginald Machell, upon her unique experience in the financial industry and at the Red Cross the Theosophical Society’s who lived at Lomaland, they depict Temple of Peace but left idealized interpretations of Tristan its doors untouched, and Isolde, the main characters of What about the San Diego History someone took great a Celtic-Norman romantic legend. Center attracted you? care to stow them They are accompanied by a dog San Diego Becomes While working at the Red Cross, away. How they survived and (symbolizing fidelity), lilies I became very familiar with the who saved them are lost to (symbolizing purity), and other a Boom Town uniqueness of San Diego. I find the history, but it couldn’t have decoration. “Untangling all combination of communities fascinating been easy—they are 12 feet of these symbols takes time. It’s and look forward to bringing them solid oak weighing hundreds multilayered, borrowing from A rate war between the railroads together to celebrate one another of pounds each. Eastern and Western histo- led to a population boom and land and share our commonalities and In all other ways, the ries,” Johnson says. “They’re stampede. The CALIFORNIA differences. I’m also hopeful that my doors speak for themselves. almost a physical microcosm SOUTHERN RAILROAD opened background in banking will help with From around 1901 until the of Theosophical beliefs. They the first Santa Fe Depot down- generating ideas to help finance new 1952 fire, they stood at the attest to the importance of art town, a small Victorian building. programs and projects. entrance to the Temple of and culture and handmade Peace, one of several build- things. Maybe that’s why What have you observed about the ings at Lomaland, a spiri- they’re so powerful.” museums' current programs? JOHN D. SPRECKELS visited tual community who built By studying the doors, Before I accepted the position, I had Is the History Center entering a the campus that now houses one can better understand San Diego on his yacht Lurline and only visited the History Center once new phase? Point Loma Nazarene the people who transformed began investing in the city. He many years ago and I had never visited It definitely is. We're preparing for a new University. Some three the land above Sunset Cliffs. would move here permanently after the Serra Museum. The latter's recent transformation of the museum, and I like decades after the fire, the The community’s leader, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. renovation was impressive; the oral to say that it's also transforming faces, doors were discovered in the Katherine Tingley, bought histories and the videos as you enter friends, and finances. The staff and the crawl space beneath a chapel the land in 1897 and erected are quite inspiring and informative. board are becoming more diverse to more on the grounds. buildings topped with closely reflect the community we serve— STATS The Electric Rapid Transit They do an excellent “They have an amaz- jewel-toned glass domes Company introduced the FIRST job of capturing the which also increases the potential for new ing presence,” says Kaytie WEIGHT and other structures. partnerships and funding opportunities. ELECTRIC STREET RAILWAY rich history of "where Johnson, San Diego History 500 lbs (each) Residents planted the SYSTEM in the western US, run- California began." Center’s Bruce Kamerling HEIGHT many trees that lent What are your goals for the center’s ning from D Street downtown I'M As I walked through Curator. “You say, wow, some- 12 feet the neighborhood its each gallery in the development efforts? (now Broadway) to Old Town. one thought these must be nickname “Wooded Area.” HOPING History Center, my Engage, expand, and expose. Engage our historically important.” The They were among the first WE CAN creative energy was current members, donors, supporters, doors are featured in The in the county to cultivate REACH A explosive. I couldn’t and community members more Path of the Mystic: Art and avocados. They even had a Harr Wagner relocates his literary stop thinking about than ever. Expand our partnerships, Theosophy at Lomaland, an radio station. “It was the magazine GOLDEN ERA from GOAL OF new ideas; I could easily programs, funding, and memberships— exhibition on view through cultural center of San Diego San Francisco, convinced that San 30,000 visualize a “quilt of I’m hoping we can reach a goal of 30,000 2020. They’ve been on display at the time,” Johnson says. Diego would replace it as the new MEMBERS. communities” coming members. And expose the community, only once before, in the 1990s. “There were many firsts.” cultural center of the West. together. And when the country, and the world to the great I went downstairs to experiences the museums have to offer. the archives, I was speechless—over 45 We’d also like to form a community 1887 BY THE NUMBERS million documents, photos, and objects! advisory council to bring together All I could think about was How can this various groups to discuss how to more YES, the opening on a key found on the doors is in the shape of a swastika. information get to the community? effectively share our history. Is that a However, when it was carved around the turn of the 20th century, it had nothing to $500 40k $3K do with Nazism. “The swastika is an ancient symbol of blessing and good fortune,” Starting price population Cost to build swastika on of Coronado of San Diego Britt Scripps Johnson says, borrowed from Indian/Hindu tradition and associated with numerous real estate lots County Manor in GET IN To learn more about how you can support the History Center, you can the doors? cultures from across Asia and Europe. (estimated) Bankers Hill TOUCH! connect with McKinney directly at [email protected].

6 THE TIMES SPRING 2020 SPRING 2020 SANDIEGOHISTORY.ORG 7 For the past 15 years, SDSU professor Seth Mallios and his students have been painstakingly excavating the former home of San Diego's first African American homesteader, Nathan Harrison. [ PHOTO BY SETH MALLIOS ]

BURIED IN THE RUBBLE of a makeshift cabin atop Palomar Mountain lie remnants of the American Dream. The bones, bullets, buttons, and bottles unearthed here are pieces of the past, relics of Nathan Harrison, San Diego’s first African American homesteader and a local legend. Harrison survived slavery in the antebellum South, was brought to San Diego during the gold rush, gained his freedom when his owner died, then defied the odds by carving out a place for himself in the Wild West and the Gilded Age. The items he cherished and left HISTORY behind define his legacy: an embodiment of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. water from his natural spring to visitors (and their horses, or bone-dry radiators) who made it up the mountain. His students have dug up numerous pieces you’d expect on a rancher’s homestead, like sheep bones that show evidence Inside the they were only butchered after they’d stopped THE MAN, producing wool. Some items turned up more often than others. Grad student Shannon Farnsworth says visitors would always bring THE MYTH, ExhibitionTimelines are one of the best him “a pair of jeans, a bottle of whiskey, and a can of sardines. He had a ton of pants, so we’d tools we have for understand- THE LEGEND find all these buttons.” ing history. And three’s the The scores of rifle cartridges were inter- YOU LEARN magic number, at least when esting finds, too, considering the laws of his ABOUT IT IN Digging for the truth in tall tales it comes to visualizing the day: Harrison was married twice to indige- life and times of Nathan nous women, and at the time it was illegal for CLASSES, BUT The myths that surround the life of Nathan Harrison—and their greater anyone who associated with native peoples to TO ACTUALLY Harrison are many. The slave-turned- context—at the History own a firearm. homesteader was said to have been illiterate, Center exhibition, opening His residency in San Diego coincided with GO IN AND GET punched up his morning coffee with lizard this spring in Balboa Park. the Second Industrial Revolution and increas- YOUR HANDS meat, ridden a raft down the Mississippi River The most zoomed-out level ing globalization, so foreign goods, such as to freedom à la Jim in Huckleberry Finn, and Gordon’s gin, were not uncommon. They shows the events shaping by one account died in a flood and by another found a watch chain that often appeared in IN THE DIRT, California and the United lived to the ripe age of 107. With so many Harrison’s incredible story—and the tall tales ABOVE: photographs of Harrison, which would have IT’S THE MOST States in his day, such as the it inspired—piqued the interest of San Diego Nathan Harrison stories convoluting the historical records, is it in front of his been invaluable to him in the years following completion of the Panama State University anthropology professor Seth Palomar cabin. the 1883 standardization of time zones and AMAZING possible to separate fact from fiction? Railroad, the Civil War, the Mallios, and he’s been uncovering artifacts clock synchronization. EXPERIENCE. Usually historians struggle with a lack of civil rights movement, and at this site for over 15 years. Leading teams of aspiring “I’d like people to know information, Mallios says. But in the case of World War I. FOR ME, archaeologists, he treks up a winding dirt road and braves the BELOW: who he really was—not —JAMIE BASTIDE Nathan Harrison, it’s just the opposite. elements to excavate Harrison’s well-preserved homestead, a few Jamie Bastide “We didn’t want to isolate ARCHAEOLOGY and Seth Mallios the persona he put on for “You see such fantastical stories and start painstaking inches at a time. Harrison from bigger, marvel at a tin of the people who came to telling yourself, ‘This can’t all be true.’ You “For me, archaeology is about finding the most important Old English Curve structural things. They show IS ABOUT his site,” says grad student Jamie Bastide. stories, not the earliest stories,” he says. “Even though Harrison is Cut Pipe Tobacco start being skeptical of everything, and that’s what he was up against but FINDING unearthed “You read about it, learn about it in classes, where archaeology becomes really fun, the first African American homesteader [in San Diego] and ‘first’ from the site of but to actually go in and get your hands also how he had agency,” because then we get to be myth busters.” THE MOST implies early, what got me excited was everything he overcame.” Harrison's cabin. in the dirt and find artifacts, it’s the most says Dr. Tina Zarpour, the Mallios and his students have found tens of thousands of [ PHOTO BY In their various digs, Mallios and his crew ROBB HIRSCH ] amazing experience.” center’s vice president of IMPORTANT artifacts, from German liqueur bottles and snake oil remedies to have come across artifacts that appeared to community engagement, bronze sock garters and suspender clips from the Sears catalog. contradict some of the stories. “There are education, and collections. STORIES, NOT The mismatched pieces reflect that Harrison’s homestead— things like a sharpened pencil and a pen Zooming in, the next THE EARLIEST and the man himself—became a draw to locals and travelers cap,” he says. “When you find those at a site timeline traces the history alike. He’d put on raggedy clothes to play up his character, tell of someone who’s supposed to be illiterate, of African Americans in San STORIES. stories, and pose for pictures. Historians believe visitors who that raises questions.” made the treacherous daylong trip up the mountain gifted Diego. “Early black residents —SETH MALLIOS Other urban legends place Harrison at Harrison many of the items not found in similar archaeological lived in both rural and urban sites, such as suspender clips. some of San Diego’s most notable events. areas. You’re trying to keep Mallios says it seems as if there were two entirely different “Harrison really is the Forrest Gump of everything in mind at the phases to his life—the first 60 years when he was a rancher Southern California—if there’s a famous same time. It lends to that and a laborer, and the last 20 to 30 years when his homestead event, there’s a story that places him there.” understanding.” became a tourism hot spot. Harrison tailored his stories to his Around the start of the civil rights move- And finally, Harrison’s life is audience. He often played the part of the helpful pioneer: a ment—more than three decades after depicted in granular detail. slight, charismatic man with a bushy white beard who provided Harrison’s death—people twisted the story to fit their preferred narrative. For example, SEE THE COMPLETE some claimed Harrison was “allergic to labor of any kind,” while others portrayed him as EXHIBITION THIS SPRING empowered, scraping up whatever money he IN BALBOA PARK! could to buy his freedom. Neither account Special thanks to Una Davis and held water. A dusty box in the attic can make all for display. The History Center is hoping of churches as the nucleus Jack McGrory for their support. One tall tale, if it’s ever proven, could be LOCAL AFRICAN the difference for historians. After to inspire the same kinds of discoveries of the community. “We don’t Visit sandiegohistory.org to a doozy. “There are rumors that he had a seeing past exhibitions on local African with its newest exhibition on African have a lot of information on add yours. stash of gold up there,” Mallios says. He and AMERICAN American history, San Diegans came American history. Drawing mostly from African American businesses,” his teams haven’t struck gold—yet. But who out of the woodwork to offer valuable photographs, it details early black social Dr. Zarpour says. Do your old boxes knows what they may find as they continue to HISTORY photos, documents, and other materials clubs and organizations, as well as the role hold a trove of historical treasure? dig for truth and treasures?

10 THE TIMES SPRING 2020 SANDIEGOHISTORY.ORG 11 I WAS THERE A New Zoo The innovative safari experience was a wild ride Roars to Life from day one

N THAT FIRST WEEK , in May on the monorail which, de- ABOVE: The monorail “an experiment in preserving , takes guests through the 1972 the most temperamental spite those fears, behaved. It Wild Animal Park on its endangered species.” beast wasn’t a rhinoceros or water snaked for five miles among dedication day in 1972. By the late 60s, zoo culture buffalo. It was an unpredictable giraffes, zebras, impalas, and BELOW: Pat Derby plays had begun to shift. “Our con- monorail. “We were having a lot of other hoofed animals that with Nina the elephant science started to say that we mechanical problems and were roamed freely in wide-open in the park's rotunda on had to be propagators of our dedication day. paranoid it would break down enclosures that mimicked species and be more involved with all these VIPs out there,” says Chuck their native habitats. The day in conservation,” recalls Biel- Bieler, now 84. after the dedication, 3,000 members of the er. The park quickly proved those efforts His job was to plan opening ceremonies public showed up (paying an admission fee successful. And it was a hit with San Di- for a groundbreaking concept, then called of $1.25). egans: Zoo membership doubled after the the Wild Animal Park. The 1,800 acres of The park was the vision of Mister Zoo park’s opening. “The zoo had people in San chaparral in San Pasqual Valley were a per- himself, Dr. Charles Schroeder, who first Diego believing in this program, and they fect stand-in for the South African high- saw it as a reserve where large animals could rallied around it.” veld. But only a third of it was developed. breed. The idea to make it public came later. Even today, the park stands alone. “No- “There wasn’t an awful lot there,” remem- Broadcasting live on dedication day, sto- body has really duplicated it anywhere bers Bieler, who at the time ried TV anchor Jack White else,” says Bieler. (And for the next 32 years, was just a couple of years captured the spirit of the before it was replaced with an open-air into his half-century ten- inventive park, calling it shuttle, the monorail chugged on.) ure with the zoo, where he served as executive direc- tor from 1973 to 1985. “It was more of a dream of OUR what you could do.” CONSCIENCE Regardless, then-Mayor STARTED TO Pete Wilson hosted a rib- SAY THAT WE bon cutting ceremony with 500 in attendance. The $10 HAD TO BE million park was declared PROPAGATORS open when animal train- OF OUR SPECIES ers Pat and Ted Derby led AND BE MORE an elephant named Nina into the rotunda. A bottle INVOLVED IN of Champagne was broken CONSERVATION.

12 THE TIMES SPRING 2020 HISTORY BEGINS WITH YOUR SUPPORT The generosity of our community enables us to connect people with our shared past through preserving, educating, and promoting the rich stories of the San Diego region. Here are some ways to help the San Diego History Center fulfill this mission:

BECOME A MEMBER VOLUNTEER WITH US SUPPORT OUR MISSION

Your support enhance and preserve present award-winning exhibitions provide educational deliver public and preserve millions of historic allows the San Diego History and public programs that engage resources for students educational programs that artifacts and archival us to: Center and Junípero visitors of all ages and share our including opportunities for reach over 150,000 families, collections for future Serra Museum region’s unique stories underserved schools students and visitors annually generations to enjoy

For more information about how you can help preserve, promote, and reveal our region’s rich history, please contact Sheila Thomas at: [email protected] or 619-232-6203 x 126

2 Historic Locations

Amazing1 Event

San Diego History Center, in Balboa Park Junípero Serra Museum, in Presidio Park

The San Diego History Center, located in the heart of Balboa Park, The Junípero Serra Museum, located in Presidio Park, offers an iconic outdoor offers a grand atrium, theater, conference room, and nine galleries. The terrace, intimate interior gallery, and incredible views of the city skyline and beautiful and spacious venue is ideal for weddings, cocktail receptions, sparkling coast. The historic mission-style museum is ideal for weddings, retreats, social hours, meetings, and fundraisers. cocktail parties, and corporate events.

Make history at the San Diego History Center and the Junípero Serra Museum! Start planning today! Please contact our event coordinator: [email protected] or 619-232-6203 x 126 1649 El Prado #3 San Diego, CA 92101 sandiegohistory.org

San Diego Comic-Con party at El Cortez hotel, 1974

HISTORIC PHOTOS MAKE A GREAT STATEMENT VISIT THE SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER IMAGE GALLERY TO LEARN MORE. photostore.sandiegohistory.org NON PROFIT ORG U.S. Postage PAID San Diego, CA HAICHRIS INC.

5665 Oberlin Dr., Suite 106, San Diego CA 92121 1649 El Prado #3 San Diego, CA 92101 sandiegohistory.org

San Diego Comic-ConTTDTTFTDFAATTDTATDTTTAFAFTTTTFDTTFFTDTADDDDFADTDDDDAFDATTTFFATAAT party at El Cortez hotel, 1974 1 1 1 Manny & Carri Guaderrama 1926 Verbena Ter Alpine CA 91901-1312

A Special Invitation - Please Join us!

HISTORIC PHOTOS MAKE A GREAT STATEMENT VISIT THE SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER IMAGE GALLERY TO LEARN MORE. photostore.sandiegohistory.org