BALBOA PARK

San Diego's undeniable cultural center, Balboa Park is home to most of the city's museums. It's a magnificent area of almost 5 km², with lush gardens, squares, fountains and, above all, historic buildings featuring remarkable Spanish Renaissance architecture. All at the gateway to Downtown, in the northeast of the district.

Named after the Spanish conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa, it is one of the oldest recreational sites in the United States.originally conceived as a simple green space, it underwent significant development thanks to the Panama-California Exposition (1915-1917). The aim was to commemorate the creation of the Panama Canal, with the construction of the California Tower, the Cabrillo Bridge and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.

Then it was the turn of the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition - initiated to revive the local economy during the Great Depression - to add its touch to Balboa Park's design. New cultural centers and landscaping were added, while numerous buildings were created around Pan American Plaza, in a unique South American style.

The park continued to develop, serving the U.S. Navy during World War II as a base camp for nurses and a rehabilitation center. It was finally declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and placed under the authority of the National Register of Historic Places.today, it's a must-see.