(This is part of a series, Blogging from A to Z April 2014 Challenge. My theme for the challenge is Quintessential San Diego from A to Z, focusing on those things that are  typical, or perfect, or classic examples of San Diego life. Today is H.)

Hotel-del-Coronado
The Hotel Del Coronado with my friend, Cathy

Today we head across the San Diego bay, from Downtown San Diego, over the Coronado Bay Bridge, to the “island” of Coronado. Which is actually an isthmus, as it is attached to the mainland with a narrow spit of land called the Silver Strand.

The Hotel del Coronado, fondly known as Hotel Del, or The Del, was built in 1888. Last year, 2013, it celebrated 125 years!

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The hotel website has a great history timeline, with period photographs, about The Del. I’ll just relay a few of the facts I found interesting.

The hotel founders wanted to build a magnificent hotel that would be “the talk of the western world,” and a place “people will continue to come long after we are gone.”

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The Back of the Hotel Del from Across the Water
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The architects hired were from Indiana. Construction began in 1887 at the north side of the hotel, which had a simpler design than the south, or beach-facing side, because most of the construction crew were inexperienced. It was hoped they would improve their skills before tackling the more complicated side of the hotel.

The hotel is built all of wood. Several varieties were used, including Douglas fir, California redwood, hemlock, cedar, Illinois white oak, and Oregon sugar pine.

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Closer View of the Beach Side
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When the hotel opened in 1888, room rates – which included three meals a day – started at about $2.50 per day!

The Hotel del Coronado was considered a technological marvel. Electricity was a young science in 1888, and The Del was probably one of the largest buildings in the U.S. to have electric power.

Hotel del Coronado featured more than 400 guest-rooms. In 1888, private bathrooms were a rarity, and The Del proudly boasted of its approximately 71 bathtubs and toilets.

Over the years many presidents, movie stars, heads of state have stayed at The Del. The list is a long one. And many movies have been filmed there. And many of my friends spent their wedding night there.

And now my favorite fact: Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum resided at the Hotel del Coronado for months at a time between the years 1904 and 1910. He wrote at least three books in the Oz series during that period (“Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz” 1908, “The Road to Oz” 1909, and “The Emerald City” 1910).

I wonder if my dad knew that? My father loved the Oz books, and made sure that I had a set of them when I was a child. Today, researching The Del is the first I heard that those three Oz books were written at the Hotel Del.

All in all, I believe The Del’s founders wish came true. 125 years later, people from all over the world are still admiring the beauty of the Hotel del Coronado.

 

Donna Amis DavisSan DiegoSan Diego A to Zcoronado,San Diego(This is part of a series, Blogging from A to Z April 2014 Challenge. My theme for the challenge is Quintessential San Diego from A to Z, focusing on those things that are  typical, or perfect, or classic examples of San Diego life. Today is H.) Today we head across the San Diego...Author of the '60s SURF SHOP MYSTERIES and DIVE SHACK MYSTERIES