Sunrise from Hotel del Coronado
This picture was taken from one of the modern accommodation blocks rather than the much more romantic old hotel building. One famous guest at ‘The Del’ in 1920 was the then British Prince of Wales, later briefly to become King Edward VIII. Local legend suggests that he may have met Wallace Simpson for the first time in ‘The Del’ as at that time she was living in Coronado. There is no proof of this, but it is a nice story. It was, of course, King Edward VIII’s desire to marry divorcee Wallace Simpson that resulted in his abdication in 1936.
Point Loma from Coronado Island
A fisherman looks out to sea from the beach on the west coast of Coronado Island and in the background looms Point Loma. This part of the coast is open to Pacific rollers, but to the right of this picture the bay narrows and curves round creating a perfect sheltered harbour.
Old Point Loma Lighthouse, Cabrillo National Monument
Old Point Loma Lighthouse was built at the southern tip of the point in 1854 to mark the entrance to San Diego Bay. The lighthouse was first lit on November 15,1855. Its location on the top of the point some 128 metres (422 feet) above sea level seemed ideal for a lighthouse but it soon became apparent that the beam was often being obscured by low clouds or fog. As a result a new lighthouse was built nearer to sea level and on March 23, 1891 the light at Old Point Loma Lighthouse was extinguished. Old Point Loma Lighthouse has been refurbished to its historic 1880’s interior. It is part of Cabrillo National Monument, a park that commemorates Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo's landing at San Diego Bay in 1542.
Point Loma & Coronado
San Diego is protected form the Pacific Ocean by two overlapping peninsulas, Point Loma and Coronado. Point Loma is a hilly peninsula separating San Diego Bay from the Pacific Ocean. It was first discovered by Europeans on September 28, 1542 by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo leading an expedition from Mexico to explore the west coast of what is now the United States. Coronado is often called Coronado Island, even though it is connected to the mainland by by a long, narrow strip of land called The Strand. While Point Loma is part of the city of San Diego, Coronado is a separate city within San Diego County with a population in excess of 24,000 people.
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Coronado Bridge
Until 1969 the quickest way to get from San Diego to Coronado was by ferry. Now the quickest way is over the Coronado Bridge. Its total length is 3,407 metres (11,288 feet) and it has a maximum height of 61 metres (200 feet) in order to allow U.S. Navy ships from the nearby Naval Station San Diego to pass underneath it.
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Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Island
To get into 50 plus DC a hotel has to be very, very special, and Hotel del Coronado fits the bill easily. Built in 1888, its founders Elisha Babcock and H. L. Story wanted this this timber built hotel to become a world-renowned resort. Their vision was rewarded as ‘The Del’ became a destination for the rich and famous. Today the hotel has retained its Victorian charm and although some modern accommodation blocks have been added they have been kept away from the original building now designated a National Historic Landmark.
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© Mike Elsden 1981 - 2025
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