The Star of India is the world’s oldest active sailing ship, having been launched in 1863 from the Isle of Man under the name of “Euterpe”, after the Greek muse of music and poetry. After six trips to India, she spent 25 years transporting emigrants to New Zealand, followed by hauling salmon from Alaska to California. She is presently part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Links: Maritime Museum
Although most famous as a federal prison (from 1934-1963), Alcatraz Island has also served as a Civil War fortress, an active bird sanctuary, the first lighthouse on the West Coast, and the birthplace of the Native American Red Power movement which occupied the island for 19 months beginning in November 1969. It is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Links: Golden Gate NRS
If you take a cruise that stops in San Francisco then you will most likely pass under the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The bridge opened for traffic in 1937 after four and a half years of construction. Its 4,200-foot long suspension span was the longest in the world when constructed and is still the 9th longest. The term Golden Gate refers to the Golden Gate Strait which is the entrance to San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean.
Links: Bridge Facts
Over 200 celebrities have had their handprints and footprints immortalized in the forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (also known as Mann’s Chinese Theatre and now officially TCL Chinese Theatre) which is on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This pic shows Steve McQueen’s imprints from March 21, 1967, which was three days before his 37th birthday.
Links: imprint archive
I love the Spanish Colonial-Revival architecture in Balboa Park in San Diego. This pic shows the San Diego Museum of Man, one of 17 museums in this beautiful 1200-acre park.
Links: Balboa Park Museum of Man
The 13-story Eastern Columbia Building in downtown Los Angeles is considered one of the best surviving examples of Art Deco architecture in LA. Designed by Claud Beelman and costing $1.25 million, it opened on September 12, 1930. Its award winning renovation in 2006 turned the building into 147 live/work lofts.
Pershing Square is in the heart of downtown Los Angeles and was originally named La Plaza Abaja when dedicated in 1866, but was renamed in 1918 in honor of the World War I general. This pic captures one of two large architectural balls and the waterfall fountain.
Links: LAParks
The Botanic Gardens at The Huntington in Pasadena offer 12 different gardens, one being the Japanese Garden, which includes a drum bridge, Japanese house, walled Zen garden, a bonsai court, and a ceremonial teahouse and tea garden.
Links: The Huntington
Built on a hilltop near Simi Valley, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library offers dramatic views of the surrounding countryside. It was opened on November 4, 1991 with five US Presidents and six First Ladies in attendance. Following his death in 2004, approximately 105,000 people viewed his casket as it lay in repose in the library lobby. Former First Lady Nancy Reagan, who died on March 6th, will be laid to rest next to her husband.
Links: Reagan Foundation
The Santa Barbara Mission was the tenth of twenty-one California Missions founded by the Spanish Franciscans, and was established on the Feast of Saint Barbara, December 4, 1786. The present building was dedicated in 1820 and still functions as a church today.
Links: Old Mission Santa Barbara
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