History San Diego Natural History Museum

1 history

1.1 hotel cecil, sixth avenue
1.2 exposition buildings, balboa park
1.3 william templeton johnson building, balboa park
1.4 world war ii

history

allosaurus @ san diego natural history museum

the san diego natural history museum grew out of san diego society of natural history, founded on october 9, 1874. natural history society founded george w. barnes, daniel cleveland, charles coleman, e. w. hendrick , o. n. sanford. oldest scientific institution in southern california, , second oldest west of mississippi.

in initial years, san diego society of natural history region s primary source of scientific culture, serving small growing community eager information natural resources. society members established volunteer county weather service in 1875, petitioned create torrey pines state reserve in 1885 , anza borrego desert state park, , garnered support san diego zoological society.

hotel cecil, sixth avenue

in 1887, society given lot on sixth avenue between b , c streets e. w. morse, former president of city s short-lived lyceum of natural sciences. hotel cecil built on part of society s lot, , in june 1912 society began meet there.

in 1910, san diego society of natural history hired kate stephens, authority on terrestrial , marine mollusks, curator collections. these included personal collection of husband, mammalogist , ornithologist frank stephens, donated on 2000 bird , mammal specimens society in 1910. in june 1912, katherine , frank stephens installed society s first museum exhibits @ hotel cecil, viewed public on selected afternoons.

the sixth avenue property hosted museum s exhibits short time, 1912-1917. however, remained property of society until 1987, when sold trammel crow company. money raised sale became part of museum of natural history’s endowment fund.

exposition buildings, balboa park

nevada state building, balboa park



foreign , domestic arts building, balboa park



commerce & industries building, balboa park

various supporters of 1915 panama-california exposition @ balboa park expressed interest in repurposing buildings exposition. complicated because actual title land in balboa park remained city of san diego. in june 1916, museum supporter g. s. thompson proposed 1 legal ground private museum corporation has permit occupy city-owned buildings in public park museum authorities maintain exhibits free, i.e., without admission charges, , open @ times public.

the museum occupied 3 different buildings exposition in balboa park, none of ideally suited museum use. in 1917, society paid $500 panama-california exposition corporation vacant nevada state building. society moved growing collections , library building in february 1917, creating san diego natural history museum. frank stephens served first director of museum 1917 1920. board identified mission being educate , people know , love nature . using specimens museum s collections, institution developed educational outreach programs city , county schools.

unfortunately, many of buildings @ exposition had been intended temporary structures. two-story nevada building, arcades, flanking wings, , spanish-renaissance trim, not built last. museum obtained permission park commission move 1915 foreign arts building, remodeled in 1920. when foreign arts building proved small, museum expanded 1916 canadian building (previously 1915 commerce , industries building). new space opened public on december 9, 1922. museum s intention combine buildings.

william templeton johnson building, balboa park

from 1922 until death in 1946, clinton g. abbott museum s director. during abbott s period director, museum able build , move long-term quarters. other notable naturalists , curators of period include guy fleming, laurence m. huey, , laurence m. klauber.

in 1925, nearby fire raised concerns safety of existing museum buildings. community leaders recognized need permanent museum of adequate size both fire-proof , earthquake-proof. ellen browning scripps major benefactor of proposed building project.

in 1832, san diego s leading architect, william templeton johnson, commissioned society of natural history design new museum building on balboa park s east prado. johnson had earned reputation design of fine arts gallery (now san diego museum of art) , downtown san diego trust & savings bank, among other buildings. museum building combined spanish , moorish touches. yellow , blue tiles mark row of arches under balustrade; surprisingly, given spanish influences, building did not have tiled roof.

the construction of permanent headquarters made possible through grant of $125,000 ellen browning scripps, , public subscription. however, full amount needed building not raised in depression years. first unit of building, @ south end of lot, , 1 wing extending toward north, built. north , east exterior facades left plain temporary walls slated future expansion, , remained 60 years. $175,000 natural history museum building formally dedicated on january 14, 1933.

world war ii

the society notified on march 8, 1943, united states navy wished take on natural history museum hospital use @ once, becoming infectious diseases ward. renovation took place in facility, including addition of elevator designed handle hospital gurneys , nurses station between floors. both features remain in use today. u.s. navy takeover of museum building duration of world war ii resulted in damage collections, exhibits, , building itself. main library , librarian moved san diego state college; rest of treasured , fragile exhibits hastily packed, crated , moved total of 32 separate places. exhibits large moved stuffed north wing on main floor. director clinton g. abbott , staff of 4 allowed limited access area of basement.

once staff allowed reoccupy building, on july 1, 1949, major renovations commenced. forced @ collections , exhibits rehabilitation process, board adopted firm policy restrict collections southwestern united states , northern mexico. museum continued steady growth post-war san diego, despite periods of financial stress. american alliance of museums accredited museum in 1974.

expanded museum postmodern style facade.