Hotel del Coronado | San Diego Review

Located at 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Next to Orange Avenue are two of the many flag-topped spires of Hotel del Coronado.
As we walk north from the hotel we pass under several trellis with flowers. You can see the new Crown Fountain that has been placed next to Coronado's main thoroughfare, Orange Avenue.
The crown at the center references Coronado and the Crown Room within the hotel itself.
The columns and directional sign next to the trellis all have the hotel's ballroom spire as an emblem.
There are groundskeepers to make the hotel attractive for its patrons. A couple workers are atop the roof vacuuming the gutters.
Like many scenic places around San Diego, the Old Town Trolley Tour has a stop right next to Hotel del Coronado.
The hotel itself was built in 1888. There are several buildings off the main driveway that serve it.
The Oxford was Coronado's first hotel, built in 1887. It was originally constructed near the ferry landing on the north side of the island.
After three years, it was repurposed as a warehouse. Beginning in 1911, it was moved from the wharf to a central location in town and served as housing for the hotel's female employees for half a century.
Saved from demolition in 1983, The Oxford was moved onto Hotel del Coronado's property and now functions as the administrative office.
The original hotel laundry was established in 1888, employed 20 women, and was housed on the second floor of the adjacent power plant. By 1919,
this brick structure expanded operations to launder all of Coronado Island with five laundry trucks and a branch location on Orange Avenue.
In 1888, electricity was still a novelty and Hotel del Coronado was an electrical marvel.
Here you see the smoke stack from the original power plant.
The Power Plant provided power to the hotel and the island. It has since been converted to work spaces and meeting rooms.
Connected to the power plant is the Ice House which conceals a museum with memorabilia and artifacts. Many famous people have stayed at the hotel, and we'll explain in a few minutes why you can take a picture with Marilyn Monroe.
A clock can tell us the current time. What if we turn these hands backwards for a bit?
Coronado is named after the four Coronado Islands southwest of San Diego. In 1885 Elisha Babcock and Hampton Story purchased Coronado. They surveyed the island and figured it was an ideal spot for a resort hotel.
The eleven month construction began in 1887 and the hotel officially opened the following year. To this day, the hotel remains the second largest wooden structure in the United States.
Here's a picture from 1889 showing how the Hotel del Coronado looks from the beach. In 1890, John D. Spreckels, the son of "Sugar King" Claus Spreckels, purchased the hotel for $500,000.
From 1900 to 1938 Tent City was set up in the area southeast of Hotel del Coronado. It was established for those that wanted the Coronado experience, but couldn't afford to stay at the hotel.
This brochure shows the palm tent charge for a family of four was $3 per day. It doesn't sound like much, but in 1919 minimum wage was 28 cents an hour.
This meant a tent stay cost more than the average worker would earn in a day.
There are several green lawns on the property for outdoor events. This one is next to The Cabanas to the left of the hotel's main entrance.
If you follow the red brick road, it leads us to the main entrance of the Hotel del Coronado.
Viewing from the east, this photo from 1892 shows the overall appearance of the hotel has remained the same. The circular room in the foreground is the Crown Room.
It's to the right of the main entrance with the large windows here. Coronado translates to "crowned" as we'll see inside this room later.
The movie "Some Like It Hot" came out in 1959.
The Hotel Del played the part of the Seminole Ritz in Miami Beach, Florida.
It is a comedy that stars Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe.
This is why you can take a picture next to her in the Ice House Museum.
Today the best we can do is get a picture next to this seagull in the seahorse fountain at the center of the main driveway.
Hotel del Coronado's red roof stands out against the blue skies of San Diego.
The ballroom's turret stands at 120 feet high and provides a commanding view although it isn't open to the public. The rest of the hotel welcomes guests as well as visitors who want to explore the hotel and see the sights.
Its red shingled spires and elegant Victorian style contribute to its feel as a fairy tale castle.
Long-time resident of San Diego Dr. Seuss was inspired by the hotel to create this painting in 1970, "I Dreamed I Was a Doorman at the Hotel del Coronado."
The front has a long wooden deck with stained glass windows and accents above the doors.
Rocking chairs are available to lounge in.
The stained glass windows with flower, shell, or tree patterns like these emit the nostalgia of a bygone era.
When viewed from within the outdoor light reveals

[@garyholmes8446]

The Del is a magical place, I use to play along the beach in 1960 and 61 when my father was stationed at Naval Station North Island just up the beach, brings back many fond memories ……….. I returned in 2017 for four days and hope to make another visit maybe next year for I’m a native Floridian ……………

[@SanDiegoReview]

Thanks for sharing and for your father's service this Memorial Day. It's pleasing to know the Hotel Del has a connection to Florida. The Grand Floridian looks just as magical, too.

[@felix1647]

The majestic Hotel Del Coronado! I miss the beach there and the great views!

[@georgegabu3741]

I've lived in San Diego pretty much my whole life and didn't know a lot of these things about the Hotel del. Thanks for the great video!

[@SanDiegoReview]

Thanks for the kind words. Our city has a fascinating history and it's gratifying to know you and others want to know more about it.