San Diego stepped into the 1960s still buzzing from the rapid growth of the previous decade. The city was getting bigger, stretching outwards with new neighborhoods, and its identity was evolving. While the optimism of the 1950s carried over, the 1960s would introduce new complexities, major building projects that reshaped the landscape, and the beginnings of social movements that reflected nationwide turbulence.
Urey Hall, Applied Mechanics and Engineering Science, AMES, UC San Diego, 1967East San Diego Branch Library, 1961San Diego Public Library – Paradise Hills Branch Library, 1962San Diego highway, 1960s
The population continued to climb throughout the decade. Families kept moving to the region, drawn by jobs, the pleasant climate, and the Southern California lifestyle. This meant the outward push of housing developments accelerated. Suburbs like Clairemont, which had boomed in the 50s, continued to fill out, and newer areas further out began to see tract homes appear. This expansion put more pressure on roads and services, a constant theme for the growing city.
One of the most visible signs of change was the massive effort to connect the expanding city. Freeway construction, started in the 50s, kicked into high gear. Interstate 5 became a major north-south artery, slicing through the region and linking neighborhoods. Interstate 8 pushed eastward, carving through Mission Valley and connecting the beaches to the inland areas. These freeways made getting around easier for the increasingly car-dependent population, but they also physically divided some older communities and changed the way people experienced the city. Driving became central to the San Diego lifestyle.
Downtown San Diego and San Diego Bay at dusk, 1968. The intersection in the middle of the photo is 3rd Avenue and B Street – before B Street was closed to make way for the Civic Plaza Concourse. San Diego Civic Theatre is on the left.El Cortez Hotel, California, 1964Balboa Naval Hospital, also known as Naval Medical Center San Diego, and Bob Wilson Naval Hospital, 1968. It is located within the grounds of Balboa Park and has played a role in the history of San Diego for more than 80 years, beginning as a hospital tent set up during World War I. An 85-acre, 89-building complex opened in 1925. During World War II, the hospital temporarily expanded to include most of the buildings in present day Balboa Park. A new complex opened in 1988 in Florida Canyon.The USS Constellation (CV-64) in San Diego Bay, 1967. Commissioned in 1961, it was the second ship in the Kitty Hawk class and the third ship in the Navy to bear the name in honor of the ‘new constellation of stars’ on the flag. Nicknamed ‘America’s Flagship’, it was decommissioned on August 7, 2003, after 41 years, nine months and 11 days of naval service. On August 8, 2014, it left Bremerton, Washington under tow for Brownsville, Texas, arrived there in mid-January 2015, and was subsequently broken up for scrap.The City began its first sewer service in 1885 along the lower portion of Fifth and Sixth avenues in downtown with the raw effluent discharged into the bay, 1963. In 1943, the Navy built a treatment plant on East Harbor Drive to reduce health risks to sailors on ships in the bay. It was enlarged in 1950, but the growing population overwhelmed it. In 1963, the Point Loma Plant opened and now processes approximately 160 million gallons a day generated by 2.2 million residents in a 450 square mile area. It has a capacity of 240 million gallons per day.Aerial view of UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest, 1968
The 1960s also marked San Diego’s arrival as a major center for higher education and scientific research. The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) officially opened its doors to undergraduates in 1964, built on scenic bluffs overlooking the Pacific in La Jolla. Its campus grew rapidly, attracting top faculty and students and quickly establishing a reputation for excellence, particularly in the sciences. Nearby, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, founded by polio vaccine pioneer Dr. Jonas Salk, opened its stunning Louis Kahn-designed facility in 1963. This concentration of brainpower began to diversify San Diego’s economy beyond its traditional reliance on the military. San Diego State College also achieved university status during this decade, becoming San Diego State University in 1971 (though the change was approved earlier), reflecting its own growth and expanding programs.
Aerial photo of San Diego State University buildings and campus taken in 1967. SDSU is the oldest and largest higher education institution in San Diego. It was founded in March 1897 as the San Diego Normal School, a training facility for elementary school teachers. In 1921 it became San Diego State Teachers College, and 10 years later moved from the 17-acre Park Blvd. location to its current Mission style buildings. In the early 1970s, San Diego State College became San Diego State University. SDSU has a student body of more than 35,000.The USS Reclaimer (ARS-42) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship, earning five battle stars for Korean War service and 8 campaign stars for Vietnam War service, 1965. She was commissioned in 1945, contaminated during the ‘Operation Crossroads’ atomic tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946 and decommissioned in 1947, and then recommissioned in 1950 to serve in the Korean war. She operated in Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Marshall Islands and Alaska until she was decommissioned in 1994. Reclaimer was dismantled for scrap in 2011 in Brownsville, Texas.Aerial View of Lake Murray and Alvarado Water Plant in 1969. View of Lake Murray and Alvarado Water Treatment Plant before modernization began in 1993. The City took over operation of the reservoir in 1950 from the Helix Irrigation District, then bought it from Helix 10 years later. It is located within the boundary of the City’s Mission Trails Regional Park. The panels in the photo were replaced in 1998 with two water storage tanks. The Alvarado plant is the oldest of the three facilities supplying City water, having been first brought into service in 1951.Fire Department personnel at work in the San Diego Fire Alarm Communications Building on Marston Point, 1969. Fire Chief Louis Almgren and Assistant Chief John E. Parrish worked closely with Alarm Superintendent J. W. Collins in 1926 to design and set up a state of the art, modern fire alarm telegraph communications center. Operations started in 1928. The city moved its fire alarm communications network into the new city hall complex downtown and closed down the old fire alarm station forever in 1970.Fire Alarm Communications Building located at the southeast end of Balboa Park on Marston Point, 1969. It served as the site of the San Diego Fire Department’s fire alarm telegraph communications center from 1928 – 1970 when the city moved its fire alarm communications network into the new city hall complex downtown. The building was designed in 1927 by Robert Snyder and his partner William Templeton Johnson and constructed by J. A. Hunt and Company.Street scene looking east on University Avenue at Central Avenue in 1960s. Friendly Liquor is on the south side and Central Sundries is on the north at 4050 University. Interstate 15 now intersects with University Avenue at this site and Central Elementary School is on the north side.La Jolla Children’s Pool at Point Mencinger Circa 1965. The Children’s Pool was created by building a seawall to form a protected cove for children to swim in but in recent years sand has filled in much of the area inside the wall and seals and sea lions have been using the beach to rest, reproduce and molt. During much of the year they are present on or near the beach. A reserve for these marine mammals, called Seal Rock, is just offshore.Men’s competition at the San Diego Lawn Bowling Club in Balboa Park, 1960. Organized in 1931 with five founding members, the San Diego Lawn Bowling Club is still going strong with many members. The bowling area is on northeast side of the Cabrillo Bridge, across from Founder’s Plaza. The club belongs to the Southwest Division of the United States Lawn Bowls Association.Street view of Balboa Naval Hospital, also known as Naval Medical Center San Diego, and Bob Wilson Naval Hospital, 1968. It is located within the grounds of Balboa Park and has played a role in the history of San Diego for more than 80 years, beginning as a hospital tent set up during World War I. An 85-acre, 89-building complex opened in 1925. During World War II, the hospital temporarily expanded to include most of the buildings in present day Balboa Park. A new complex opened in 1988 in Florida Canyon.
Professional sports truly arrived in San Diego during the sixties. The San Diego Chargers football team, part of the upstart American Football League (AFL), moved south from Los Angeles in 1961. They quickly gained a loyal following, playing initially at Balboa Stadium. But the city needed a modern venue for major league sports. In 1967, the brand-new, multi-purpose San Diego Stadium opened in Mission Valley (it would later be renamed multiple times). This state-of-the-art facility, with its distinctive circular design, became the Chargers’ new home. Its existence was also key to attracting Major League Baseball. In 1969, the San Diego Padres began play as a National League expansion team, sharing the stadium with the Chargers and bringing top-level baseball to the city for the first time.
Group picture of 1967 Junior Tennis, San Diego Federal Christmas Tournament participants.Glorietta Bay Marina with the Hotel Del Coronado in the background in the 1960s.Hydroplane boat races on Mission Bay in 1966, with the University of San Diego in the background.Aerial view of the Coronado Ferry going from San Diego to Coronado in 1968. The peninsula was purchased by Elisha S. Babcock, Jr., Hampton L. Story, and Jacob Gruendike in 1885 and construction began on the now famous resort community. In order to accommodate the growing number of people going to the peninsula from San Diego, Babcock and Story created the San Diego and Coronado Ferry Company in April 1886 and the ferry completed its first run in August.Aerial view of San Diego, California, 1965San Diego Chargers vs Buffalo Bills, 1965 AFL ChampionshipGrading and Dairy on Mission Valley Site of San Diego Stadium, 1966. Which still remained on the site of the stadium when construction began. 20 dairies had dotted the valley. The first dairy was started in the 1880s and by the 1950s, dairy goods were the third-largest agricultural product in the county. When the City rezoned the land in the 1950s, many farmers took advantage of rising land values and sold out. By 1965, only one dairy remained. A sculpture and plaque commemorating the Guglielmetti Dairy is located on site.The dam at Lake Murray Reservoir, 1968. The City of San Diego took over operation of the Lake Murray Reservoir in 1950 from the Helix Irrigation District, then purchased the reservoir from Helix 10 years later. It is located within the boundary of the City’s Mission Trails Regional Park. When full, the reservoir has 171.1 surface acres, a maximum water depth of 95 feet, and 3.2 shoreline miles.Knights of Columbus Library, University of San Diego, 1965Knights of Columbus Library, University of San Diego, 1965Broadway at night San Diego, California, 1964
Mission Bay continued its transformation from a muddy tidal marsh into a vast aquatic playground. Dredging and landscaping efforts throughout the decade created miles of beaches, grassy picnic areas, and calm waters for boating and swimming. The most famous addition arrived in 1964 when SeaWorld opened its gates on the bay’s south shore. Featuring trained dolphins, sea lions, and eventually the famous killer whale Shamu, SeaWorld quickly became a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from across the country and adding another dimension to San Diego’s appeal.
Children playing in the water at a beach on Mission Bay in 1968Mission San Diego de Alcala, 1960Friendship Bell, San Diego, California, 1964San Diego, California, 1967San Diego, California, 1962San Diego, California, 1964San Diego, California, 1960San Diego, California, 1969San Diego Firemen standing in extended snorkels of their new fire trucks in 1969. In 1968, the City Council passed a resolution approving the purchase of these Quint 65 Ft. Articulating Arm Aerial Platform Fire Apparatuses for a total cost of $293,012. The American LaFrance Fire Engine Company was one of the oldest fire apparatus manufacturers in America, with roots that go back to approximately 1832. They ceased operations in 2014.San Diego skyline San Diego, California, 1965Revelle Residence Halls, Unit II. University of California, San Diego, 1967San Diego Harbor, 1960U.S. Grant Hotel and plaza, San Diego, 1960City Administration Building, Phil Swing Memorial Fountain 1966. The plaque reads ‘The Father of Boulder Dam, All American Canal, San Diego Aqueduct, Metropolitan Water District, Dedicated this 6th day of July 1967 by the People of San Diego’ and lists the names of committee members who funded the fountain and city officials. Philip David Swing (1884-1963) was influential in bringing rivers and roads to the southwest. He was an attorney, a judge, in the House of Representatives where he focused on water issues, and a member of the California State Water Resources Board.San Diego’s skyline taken from Armada Terrace around 1969. Armada Terrace is a street located in the LaPlaya neighborhood of Point Loma in San Diego, offering amazing views of the city.The El Capitan Reservoir is stocked with Florida-strain largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, green sunfish, and carp, 1967. The reservoir was created in 1935 with the completion of the El Capitan Dam. That same year it was connected to the City’s water system via the El Capitan Pipeline. Located 30 miles northeast of downtown on the San Diego River, El Capitan has the largest capacity in the City’s reservoir system.A ‘Refresh with Milk’ billboard in San Diego, 1967.Opening day of fishing at San Vicente, 1968. San Vicente is a deep, steep-sided impounding reservoir on San Vicente Creek in the Cuyamaca Mountains. The dam was completed in 1943 and began receiving water from the First San Diego Aqueduct in 1947. The reservoir was closed to boating and fishing on Labor Day 2008 so that the San Diego County Water Authority could complete the largest dam raise in U.S. history, raising the dam by 117 feet and more than doubling the storage capacity to make San Vicente the largest dam in the county.Aerial view of Point Loma, with the historic Lighthouse and Cabrillo Monument in the foreground, and Ballast Point and North Island behind. 1960s.Point Loma with both New and Old Lighhouses in view, 1967. The old lighthouse was built in 1855 and is situated at the Cabrillo National Monument. It is no longer in operation as a lighthouse but is open to the public as a museum. The new lighthouse is at the southern tip of the Point Loma peninsula. It was first lit in 1891, replacing the old lighthouse. The structure is the only one of its kind remaining on the West Coast.Aerial view of Point Loma, with the historic Lighhouse and Cabrillo Monument in the foreground and North Island behind, 1966Aerial view of La Jolla taken in 1969, from Bird Rock on the South up to Scripps Pier on the North.Opening day of fishing at San Vicente. San Vicente is a deep, steep-sided impounding reservoir on San Vicente Creek in the Cuyamaca Mountains, 1968. The dam was completed in 1943 and began receiving water from the First San Diego Aqueduct in 1947. The reservoir was closed to boating and fishing on Labor Day 2008 so that the San Diego County Water Authority could complete the largest dam raise in U.S. history, raising the dam by 117 feet and more than doubling the storage capacity to make San Vicente the largest dam in the county.View of the Embarcadero along Harbor Drive, ships in San Diego Bay, the Royal Inn Hotel, Navy and Broadway B Street piers, the Star of India and Anthony’s restaurant. The Broadway Pier made its debut in 1913. The first cruise ship terminal was added in 1970. In 2010, the Port Pavilion opened and serves as a cruise ship terminal when the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal is accommodating two ships and a third ship needs a berth.
Perhaps the most dramatic construction project was the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. For decades, crossing the bay to Coronado meant taking a ferry or driving the long way around via the Silver Strand. Starting in 1967, the elegant blue curve of the bridge began to rise over the water. Its construction was a major engineering feat. When it opened in August 1969, the bridge instantly became a city icon, offering stunning views and finally providing a direct road link between San Diego and Coronado. It changed traffic patterns and made Coronado feel much more connected to the mainland city.
The Coronado Bridge being built, 1968. Construction of the $50 million bridge began in February 1967. The principal architect was Robert Mosher. It opened on August 3, 1969, during the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of San Diego. The 2.12-mile long bridge has a vertical clearance of approximately 200 feet, allowing the tallest ships to pass beneath it. In 1970, it won the ‘Most Beautiful Bridge’ Award of Merit from the American Institute of Steel Construction.Aerial view of La Jolla and the Chldren’s Pool at Point Mencinger taken in 1966. Mt. Soledad is in the background.
The military and defense industries remained vitally important. Naval Base San Diego, North Island Naval Air Station, and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot stayed busy. The Cold War meant continued defense spending, and local companies like General Dynamics (formerly Convair) were major employers, working on projects like the Atlas missile program. As the United States became more deeply involved in the Vietnam War during the mid-to-late sixties, San Diego’s military bases saw increased activity related to training, deployment, and support for operations in Southeast Asia. This brought a steady stream of military personnel through the city, but it also eventually contributed to growing anti-war sentiment.
Aerial view of Kearny Mesa taken in 1967, with General Dynamics and Missile Park in site. Kearny Mesa is named for the former Camp Kearny, a U.S. military base which operated in the area from 1917 to 1946 and eventually became Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The urbanization of Kearny Mesa began in 1937 with Gibbs Airfield, now the small airfield Montgomery Field. Beginning in 1955, General Dynamics, numerous aerospace, electronic, and other industrial and office firms located in the area.General Atomics (GA) was founded on July 18, 1955, in San Diego as a division of General Dynamics on Hancock Street ‘for the purpose of harnessing the power of nuclear technologies’. In 1956 voters approved transferring land to GA for facilities in Torrey Pines and the John Jay Hopkins Laboratory for Pure and Applied Science was formally dedicated there on June 25, 1959. The facility continues to serve as the company’s headquarters today.Opening day of fishing in 1968 at El Capitan Reservoir. The El Capitan Reservoir is stocked with Florida-strain largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, green sunfish, and carp. The reservoir was created in 1935 with the completion of the El Capitan Dam. That same year it was connected to the City’s water system via the El Capitan Pipeline. Located 30 miles northeast of downtown on the San Diego River, El Capitan has the largest capacity in the City’s reservoir system.The 1966 Salmon Junior Tennis Team.Horton Plaza Information Booth Volunteers with trophies, 1960. Railroad and airline ticket offices are in background. The Information Booth opened August 22, 1951. Volunteers inside the booth answered questions and gave directions.Aerial view of Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, with Rosecrans National Cemetery in the background, 1967. In 1963, the City completed the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, Point Loma Ocean Outfall, and the Municipal Wastewater Collection System. The Point Loma plant remains the mainstay of the wastewater system, processing approximately 160 million gallons a day of wastewater generated by 2.2 million residents in a 450 square mile service area. The facility has a treatment capacity of 240 million gallons per day.Construction site of the San Diego City Administration Building in 1963. Morley H. Golden, at one time known as Mr. San Diego for his community involvement, led the campaign to build the complex housing City Hall (now named Charles C. Dail Community Concourse), exhibit and convention hall (now named Golden Hall), the parkade, and the 3,000-seat Civic Theater, which his firm M. H. Golden Construction Company, completed in 1965.The Coronado Bridge, 1968. Construction of the $50 million bridge began in February 1967. The principal architect was Robert Mosher. It opened on August 3, 1969, during the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of San Diego. The 2.12-mile long bridge has a vertical clearance of approximately 200 feet, allowing the tallest ships to pass beneath it. In 1970, it won the ‘Most Beautiful Bridge’ Award of Merit from the American Institute of Steel Construction.Aerial view of the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier, one of the most visited landmarks in San Diego County, 1966. It was officially christened and introduced to San Diegans on July 2, 1966. It is the longest concrete pier on the West Coast at 1,971 feet.The Westgate Hotel under construction at 1055 2nd Avenue, 1968. Completed in 1970, it is a luxury boutique hotel filled with priceless antiques and appointments one would find in an elegant home. Designed as a re-creation of an anteroom in the Palace of Versailles, the Grand Lobby is noted for its magnificent antiques, Baccarat crystal chandeliers, Flemish and French tapestries and Persian carpets.View of the Civic Center and downtown San Diego taken from the El Cortez Hotel in 1967.Sweetwater Reservoir, 1967. A 960-acre artificial lake in San Diego formed by the Sweetwater Dam on the Sweetwater River. Construction of the dam was completed in 1888. It is open for shoreline fishing only, with access limited to 2.5 miles of designated shoreline. Fish species include largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill and carp.
Alongside these organized movements, the youth counterculture emerged. Reflecting national trends, some young San Diegans adopted hippie lifestyles, questioning traditional values and embracing new forms of music, fashion, and expression. Areas like Ocean Beach became known for their more bohemian atmosphere. As the Vietnam War escalated, anti-war protests became more frequent, particularly near military facilities and on college campuses like SDSU and UCSD. These demonstrations sometimes led to clashes and arrests, highlighting the divisions within society over the war.
Beachgoers at La Jolla Cove in 1969. La Jolla Cove is a small beach tucked between sandstone cliffs. Because of its extraordinary beauty, La Jolla Cove is one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California. With small surf in the summer months, the north facing La Jolla Cove is ideal for swimmers, snorkelers and scuba divers. Water visibility at the Cove can sometimes exceed 30 feet. La Jolla Cove lies within the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, which helps to ensure that marine life remains plentiful.F Street looking west at First Avenue, 1968. The Federal and Senator Hotels are on the left.The Pavilion’ on the coast of La Jolla, designed by Architect Dale Naegle in the 1960’s as a guest retreat for Sam Bell, heir to General Mills (Bell Potato Chips). It is accessible via a 300 foot tramway. The mushroom shaped design was used to honor nature’s forces, resisting tidal waves, rock slides, earthquakes, fire, wind, and rain storms. Now owned by a San Diego philanthropist, it remains La Jolla’s best kept secret. Only sea lions, seals and surfers know of it.Savage Dam, a concrete arch gravity structure 149 feet high, 1968. The dam is named in honor of H. N. Savage, who directed its construction. Originally built in 1897 as an earthfill and steel structure called the Otay Dam, heavy rains in 1916 (ostensibly the work of the ‘rainmaker’ Charles Hatfield) caused the dam to burst. A wall of water 40 feet high went downstream, destroying buildings and bridges, and washing of tons of wreckage into San Diego Bay. The dam was rebuilt as Savage Dam in 1918, and has functioned properly since.Mission Boulevard at Rockaway Court, Mission Beach, 1967. The legendary Saska’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant is on the right, a family-owned restaurant in business at the same location on Mission Boulevard in north Mission Beach since the 1950’s.
While suburbs boomed, San Diego’s downtown area faced challenges. As more people and businesses moved out to suburban shopping centers and office parks, the old city center lost some of its energy. Some historic buildings fell into disrepair, and Horton Plaza, once the heart of downtown, saw better days. Recognizing these issues, city leaders began discussions about revitalization, leading to the formation of the Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) near the end of the decade, although its major redevelopment projects wouldn’t take shape until later years.
Evan V. Jones Parkade under construction in 1964. Morley H. Golden, at one time known as Mr. San Diego for his community involvement, led the campaign to build the complex housing City Hall (now named Charles C. Dail Community Concourse), exhibit and convention hall (now named Golden Hall), the parkade, and the 3,000-seat Civic Theater, which his firm M. H. Golden Construction Company, completed in 1965. The parkade is named after Evan Jones, who founded ACE Parking in 1950.Western Metal Supply Company building on the corner of 8th Avenue and L Street, now part of Petco Park Stadium, 1968. Designed in 1909 by respected architect Henry Lord Gay, it was declared a historic landmark in 1978, which prevented its demolition and delayed construction of Petco in 2000. After negotiations with the preservation community, it was agreed to rehabilitate the building and include it in the stadium design as an example of adaptive reuse.Aerial view of San Diego Stadium in Mission Valley taken in 1969. The stadium was originally opened in 1967 and renamed in 1980 for local sportswriter Jack Murphy. A substantial addition was completed in 1997 which fully enclosed it, with the exception of where the scoreboard is located. Also in 1997, the facility was renamed Qualcomm Stadium after Qualcomm Corporation paid $18 million for the naming rights. It has been used by the NFL’s San Diego Chargers and the San Diego State University Aztecs college football team.San Diego City In 1961City of San Diego skyline from San Diego Bay, 1960sWestern view of downtown San Diego, the community concourse and surrounding buildings at sunset during the 1966 holiday season.A publication called Ryan Reporter shows a black-and-white photo of the Ryan Airfield in San Diego, California for its 30th anniversary, 1964.The Bay of San Diego, 1960sINK Group, 1968. Top row: Chico Hagey, Ann Lebedoff, Janet Newberry, Rick Evans. Bottom row: John Bennett, Mary Struthers, Gloria Thomas, Randy Thomas. In 1935 Harper Ink, Sr. (1888-1953) started the Harper Ink Memorial Tennis Tournament to support and assist young tennis players financially. Losers were allowed to keep the balls, and the trophies came from Tiffany’s. Harper Ink’s contribution to San Diego tennis renews itself every year with the Ink Tournament which is now played at the Barnes Tennis Center.Ink Tennis Trophy Winners, 1961. Top row: Carlos Carriedo, Kathy Blake, Molly Danielson, Kathy Chabot, David Sanderlin. Bottom row: Roy Barth, Kathy Apple, Patty Barth, Bill Bethard. In 1935 Harper Ink, Sr. (1888-1953) started the Harper Ink Memorial Tennis Tournament to support and assist young tennis players financially. Losers were allowed to keep the balls, and the trophies came from Tiffany’s. Harper Ink’s contribution to San Diego tennis renews itself every year with the Ink Tournament which is now played at the Barnes Tennis Center.The City Administration Building (CAB) with Christmas lights, 1967. The multi-story City Hall and Community Concourse were dedicated on a four-block-square property at 202 C Street in 1964.
The 1960s were a time of significant social change across America, and San Diego felt these currents. The Civil Rights Movement gained momentum locally. African American and other minority residents challenged discrimination in housing, employment, and education. Activists organized protests, sit-ins, and voter registration drives, demanding equal rights and opportunities. While San Diego didn’t experience the level of violence seen in some other parts of the country, there were definite tensions and struggles as the city grappled with issues of segregation and inequality. The Chicano Movement also began to gain prominence, advocating for the rights and cultural recognition of Mexican Americans in the region.
The beginning and Southern Terminal of the Pacific Highway, 1960sInk Tennis Trophy Winners, 1960: Top row: Bill Bond, Karen Hantze, Judy Menna, Joan Chabot, Jon Pierce. Bottom row: David Sanderlin, Kathy Chabot, Claire O’Connel, Ronnie Dewing. In 1935 Harper Ink, Sr. (1888-1953) started the Harper Ink Memorial Tennis Tournament to support and assist young tennis players financially. Losers were allowed to keep the balls, and the trophies came from Tiffany’s. Harper Ink’s contribution to San Diego tennis renews itself every year with the Ink Tournament which is now played at the Barnes Tennis Center.Mickie Finn’s first nightclub operated at 1051 University Avenue at 10th from 1960 to 1974. Fred and Mickie Finn converted an old warehouse into a rambunctious Gay 90s, Roaring 20s, Swinging 30s nightclub. It was the creation of piano player Fred Finn, who developed the concept into several forms – nightclubs, a 1966 television show, and a stageshow continuing on into the 21st century. In the early 1970s, Fred and Mickie opened the second nightclub in Beverly Hills. The first building remains, now as Rich’s San Diego Nightclub.Aerial view of highway construction (Route 163) near Balboa Park, including the Ford Building, Cabrillo Bridge, and California Tower, San Diego, 1961.Biomedical Sciences Building, School of Medicine, UC San Diego, 1968Aerial view of Montgomery Field taken in 1968 at 14,700 feet. The field was named for John J. Montgomery, an aviation pioneer who in 1884-1886 made the first manned, controlled, heavier-than-air flights in the United States with a glider designed in 1883. The airport opened in 1937 as ‘Gibbs Field’ as a clay and gravel surface airfield. During World War II, control was assumed by U.S. Air Force, who built three hard runways.Aerial view of Muir College campus construction, UC San Diego, 1969Aerial view of Muir College campus construction, UC San Diego, 1969Aerial view of UC San Diego campus construction, 1969Urey Hall, Applied Mechanics and Engineering Science, AMES, UC San Diego, 1967Topping off Giesel Library building, UC San Diego, 1969Aerial view of Muir College campus construction, UC San Diego, 1968Aerial view of new building construction, UC San Diego, 1969Construction on UC San Diego campus, 1969Aerial view of Nimitz Marine Facility, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, 1969Muir College campus construction, UC San Diego, 1968Aerial view of La Jolla Farms and UC San Diego, looking east, 1969Aerial view of Muir College campus construction, UC San Diego, 1969Aerial eastward view of UC San Diego, 1969Aerial view of the UC San Diego campus, looking east, 1969Natatorium, interior, UC San Diego, 1968Aerial view of UC San Diego campus, 1969Construction on UC San Diego campus, 1969
Daily life for many San Diegans revolved around work, family, and enjoying the coastal environment. The car was king, necessary for commuting from sprawling suburbs. Drive-in movie theaters remained popular gathering spots. The surfing culture, already established, exploded in popularity, with local beaches becoming world-renowned surf spots. Music tastes shifted from the early rock and roll of the 50s to the British Invasion bands, folk rock, and psychedelic sounds later in the decade. People followed national events closely – the Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of President Kennedy, the Civil Rights marches, the Vietnam War on the nightly news, and the excitement of the space race culminating in the moon landing in 1969. These larger events formed the backdrop to life in a city that was rapidly building its modern form while navigating the complex social changes of a transformative decade.
Fire Chief Leonard Bell with another fireman and Miss Flame promoting 1969 Fire Prevention Week, October 5 – 11. Miss Flame, an annual position during the 1960’s and 1970’s, served as the official hostess for Fire Prevention Week activities, such as the Fighter’s Ball held in the San Diego Concourse ballroom.Queen of the 1963 Senior Citizens Cherry Festival playing shuffleboard at Balboa ParkLinn Montgomery, Candy Streshly and Bob Brown, San Diego Youth Symphony 1960. The San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory (SDYS) is the 6th oldest continuously operating youth symphony in the United States, and serves students from its home in Balboa Park. Skill levels range from beginner to pre-professional, with participating students ages 8 to 25.Eileen Beermann, Youth Symphony harpist. She was also in the All-California High School Orchestra, La Jolla Civic Orchestra, Univ. of Redlands Symphony and Southwestern Harp Festival. In 1964 while at Redlands, she toured the nation as a member of the ensemble headed by noted pianist, Roger Williams. The San Diego Youth Symphony is the 6th oldest continuously operating youth symphony, with its home in Balboa Park. Skill levels range from beginner to pre-professional, with students aging 8 to 25.Marita Redondo, San Diego Junior Tennis, 1969. Marita was born in 1956 in San Diego and played professional tennis from 1970 to 1982. Her many accomplishments include: U.S. Nationals, Virginia Slims tour, teaming with Chris Evert on the Wightman Cup team, World Team Tennis, Bridgestone Doubles Championships, and Sillook Championships in Japan. She received several awards. After touring, she held positions at the Handlery Tennis and Frog’s Athletic clubs, and Lomas Santa Fe Country Club.Downtown San Diego, 1960El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, CaliforniaThe Plaza, San Diego, California, 1960View of Harbor Drive, going south from Hawthorn Street to Broadway Pier, tuna boats docked. San Diego was once the tuna capital of the world. From the 1930s until the late 1970s, it was the city’s third-largest industry, behind the Navy and aerospace. Two of the three big tuna canning companies were here, and the waterfront was home to four canneries and many boats. Due to regulations, rising costs, environmental pressure associated with dolphins and other issues, all corporations had moved from the west coast by 1984.Lake Murray Reservoir, 1967. The City of San Diego took over operation of the Lake Murray Reservoir in 1950 from the Helix Irrigation District, then purchased the reservoir from Helix 10 years later. It is located within the boundary of the City’s Mission Trails Regional Park. When full, the reservoir has 171.1 surface acres, a maximum water depth of 95 feet, and 3.2 shoreline miles. This lake is very popular for bicycling, jogging, walking, rollerblading, and picnicking.U-8 Hydroplane racing on Mission Bay near Ingraham Street bridge in 1967.Aerial view of Bird Rock, a seaside neighborhood within the larger community of La Jolla in San Diego, 1967. The neighborhood is named for an offshore rock that was described as having the shape of a bird. It was subdivided by pioneer developer Michael Francis Hall in 1906. During World War II the area housed a unit of the Coast Artillery called the Bird Rock Coastal Defense and Anti-Aircraft Training Center.The citizens of Yokohama, Japan presented the Friendship Bell to San Diego in May 1958 as part of the Centennial Celebration of formal relations between that country and the United States. It also served to mark the establishment of the sister city relationship between San Diego and Yokohama, which was the first such affiliation on the West Coast. The large bronze bell housed in a pagoda structure was designed by artist Masahiko Katori.Diners at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, San Diego, California, 1960.Looking north in the Gaslamp Quarter Circa 1960. Herman Cohn, Inc., Royal Jewelers and Walker Scott Department Store located on Broadway are in view.Marine Land, San Diego, 1960sSan Diego, Marine Land, 1960sConstruction site of the San Diego City Administration Building in 1964. Morley H. Golden, at one time known as Mr. San Diego for his community involvement, led the campaign to build the complex housing City Hall (now named Charles C. Dail Community Concourse), exhibit and convention hall (now named Golden Hall), the parkade, and the 3,000-seat Civic Theater, which his firm M. H. Golden Construction Company, completed in 1965.Horton Plaza Information Booth Volunteers in 1960. The Information Booth opened August 22, 1951. Volunteers inside the booth answered questions and gave directions. Jacobson’s clothing store is in the background.Nightime photo of the California Tower and Dome taken from Laural Street Bridge during the 1969 holiday season.Fire Prevention Week activities included posing with San Diego Fire Department’s Old 165 Hook and Ladder, 1968. Pictured are two men with Fred and Mickie Finn, owners and performers at Mickie Finn’s first nightclub. They operated from 1960 to 1974 at 1051 University Avenue in Hillcrest. Fred raced the 1927 Seagraves fire engine at the El Cajon Speedway as a publicity gimmick for the nightclub.Kathy Apple, 1962 San Diego Junior Tennis.Data Processing personnel in the City Administration Building basement in 1968. IBM 360 computer, teletype interface and hard drives were in use. The IBM System 360 was a mainframe computer system announced by IBM in 1964 and delivered between 1965 and 1978. It was the first family of computers designed to cover the complete range of applications, from small to large, both commercial and scientific.Young actresses performing in 1962 in San Diego Junior Theatre’s production of Twelve Dancing Princesses, also known as The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes or The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces. It is a German fairy tale originally published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812 as tale number 133. Established in 1948 in Balboa Park, San Diego Junior Theatre is the oldest youth theatre program in the United States, producing shows acted and crewed by children ages 8-18.San Diego Fire Crew helping Santa Claus onto a fire truck with his bag of gifts, 1966. Toys and donations were collected year-round to prepare for Santa’s visit in joint, dedicated team efforts between firefighters, San Diego City Schools and corporate sponsors.
Image Credits: sandiego.gov, Library of Congress, New York Public Library, UC San Diego
