Are you aware that May is National Historic Preservation Month? I chose to celebrate with the Coronado Historical Association by joining them for a virtual lecture called Bite of History: Coronado's Architectural Styles.
For those who don't know this delightful island, here's a brief history. After being discovered and named by Spanish explorers in 1602, Coronado remained a barren peninsula and its chief population was jack rabbits until the island was purchased in 1885 by Elisha S. Babcock, Jr. and Hampton L. Storey who decided it would be an ideal setting for a luxurious resort hotel. The Hotel del Coronado opened in 1888, and shortly afterwards was sold to John D. Spreckels, the “Sugar King.” The hotel is a designated National Historical Landmark (and one of our favorite places on the island to visit).
Another important part of Coronado’s history is aviation and the military. In 1911, Glenn Curtis opened an aviation camp in what is today the Naval Air Station North Island. In 1927, Col. Charles Lindbergh took off on the first leg of his journey to St. Louis, New York and Paris from North Island. Today, North Island homeports two aircraft carriers, making the military the top employer in the community.
This informative lecture was hosted by Christine Stokes, the Executive Director of the CHA. She was great at explaining the architectural treasures found all within the 32.67 mi² that is Coronado.
This was definitely a beginner's guide to architecture, which I thoroughly appreciated.
She defined terms which will help us in any home touring events.
What I thought was the coolest part was the explanations of all the various styles, along with examples which we can actually go and see.
The Coronado Historical Association has compiled a list of 86 homes and sites in Coronado that comprise the historical tour (the number is growing). To make the list, the house or site must meet one or all of the following criteria to be considered a landmark: it must have significant architecture; it must be designed by a significant architect; a famous person must live or have lived there; it must contribute to the history of Coronado; and it is usually 50 years or older.
This lecture was like an appetizer plate, while delicious, it made me hungry for the main course. Steve and I plan to take the knowledge gained today and stroll the streets of Coronado, savoring its history and learning about those who came before us. I can't wait.
"Architecture should speak of its time and place,
but yearn for timelessness.”
- Frank Gehry
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