Ford Building - San Diego, CA
Posted by: 
bluesnote
N 32° 43.603 W 117° 09.227
11S E 485589 N 3621002
A historical marker in Balboa Park.
Waymark Code: WM108BX
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 03/20/2019
Views: 0
The plaque says, "Designed by legendary industrial engineer Walter Dorwin Teague, Sr. (1883-1960), this outstanding example of Streamline Moderne architecture was built by the Ford Motor Company for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. it served as the Palace of Transportation for the second year of the Exposition.
The building's designed reflected the progress of technology with its clean, curved shapes, strong horizontal lines, and the use of glass, steel, and neon Architectural features include the rotunda, built in the shape of a giant gear with special lightning effects, as open-air courtyards with a fountain in the shape of the Ford V-8 logo, and valve-shaped light fixtures. 1935 Exhibits included a mock assembly line and examples of Ford cars since 1896. Behin the building was "Roads of the Pacific", offering rides in new Ford cars over a rough and winding route along Cabrillo Canyon.
The large interior mural, "The March of Transportation" by Exposition art director san Larringa (1885-1947) was added in 1936. During World War II, the building was used by the National Guard, the American Red Cross, and as a training facility for the 251st. Coast Artillery. It later became a vocational school for aircraft construction and maintenance.
In 1973, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1980, the restored building reopened as the new home of the San Diego Air & Space Museum after fire destroyed the museum's prior Balboa Park location. The Ford Building is the only surviving example of five exhibit halls built in the 1930s by Ford Motor Company."
Group that erected the marker: Friends of Balboa Park
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
San Diego, CA
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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