CONNECT with the CityNew Discoveries
Welcome to the New Discoveries blog! City of San Diego City Clerk Archives staff use this area to upload newly rediscovered documents from San Diego’s history. In their duties, staff often find unique and interesting pieces of history they want to bring to the public. Those documents are uploaded here and then organized into their appropriate Collection, or a new Collection is created. Please check back frequently for fascinating new finds and discoveries!
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1973 - First San Diego Female Lifeguard
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In 1973, Carol Tyler made history as the first female lifeguard in San Diego. Her achievement marked a significant milestone for women in the field; however, the lifeguard profession largely remained male-dominated until the premiere of the original title "Baywatch" from 1989 to 1999, which helped to bring more visibility to women in lifeguarding roles.
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2025-"Museum Month"
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February 1, 2025 - "Museum Month" invites you to discover the enjoyment of exploring local culture throughout the month of February. Over 70 museums in the San Diego area will be offering a 50% discount on admission.
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1939-"The Guardian of Water Fountain"
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Here is beautiful statue of the Donal Hord's Guardian of Water Fountain at the County Administration Building after installation was completed in May 1939. Hord spent two years forming the Guardian from a 22-ton granite block from a Lakeside quarry. The combined statue and base rise 22 feet, 3 inches, with the statue itself reaching a height of 13 feet, 3 inches. The Guardian of Water was dedicated on June 10, 1939. It symbolizes San Diego's guardianship over one of its most precious resources - water.
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1889- “The San Diego County Courthouse”
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In 1889, the San Diego Court Courthouse was built and donated by downtown founder Alonzo E. Horton. The Italianate-style building was designed by architects Comstock and Trotsche of San Francisco and included a bell and clock tower, statues of four presidents, a 10-foot gilded statue of Justice and 42 stained-glass windows honoring the states of the Union at the time. It was demolished in 1959.
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Undated- “The History of the Ballot Box”
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Checkout out this metal ballot box used in the early elections. Typically made of wood or metal, ballot boxes feature a hinged top which is secured with a lock during the time votes are cast. A thin slot is cut into the top, which is large enough to accept a paper ballot. The slot was narrow enough that the ballot cannot be removed manually through the opening. Small and portable, ballot boxes were delivered to designated polling places during election season.
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1930-The Gutierrez Spanish Tent Show
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Here is a tent show pamphlet advertising the infamous “Gutierrez Tent Show”, or Gutierrez Show Compañía Mexicana de Autómatas y Variedades, which was a traveling tent show that came regularly at least during the 1930s and 1940s to the Barrio Logan section of San Diego.
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February 2, 1895 - Street Signpost
In 1895, the Office of the Board of Public Works Department submitted a petition to the City Common Council for approval to construct and design the “City’s First Official Street Signpost.” Here’s to one-hundred and twenty-nine years of signs that provided information on direction and distance!
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1969-Fire Alarm Communications Building
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Take a glance at this historical image of the “San Diego Fire Department's Fire Alarm Telegraph Communications Center,” 1969. This center location provided services 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.
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1930- The People’s Bridge
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Here’s a historical image of the original First Avenue Bridge crossing over Maple Canyon. Erected at the urging of property owners under the Improvement Act of 1911, replaced with a steel arch bridge in 1931 that had been completely assembled on the floor of a mid-western fabrication plant, dismantled, and shipped to San Diego. It was renovated and retrofitted in 2010. The bridge is located in Bankers Hill on First Avenue, between Nutmeg and Palm.
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1929 – S.S. Ferry “Coronado” on Trial Trip
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S.S. Ferry “Coronado” was running trials in San Francisco Bay prior to arrival in San Diego. It was constructed for the San Diego and Coronado Ferry Company by the Moore Dry-Dock Company on April 11, 1929. In order to accommodate the growing number of people visiting the Coronado peninsula from San Diego, Elisha S. Babcock, Jr. and Hampton L. Story created the San Diego & Coronado Ferry Co. in April 1886 and the ferry completed its first run in August.
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October 31, 1932 - Construction of Portal of Diversion Tunnel
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Here is an interesting photo of the diversion tunnel at El Capitan Dam. In 1932 Tom Connelly and Wilhelm Rohl formed the Rohl-Connolly Company to bid on the construction of El Capitan Dam. After successfully winning the contract, the new joint venture completed the project in 1934. After that, the El Capitan Reservoir was created and connected to the City's water system via the El Capitan Pipeline. Located approximately 30 miles northeast of San Diego on the San Diego River, it has the largest capacity in the City's reservoir system.
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November 3, 1903- Saloon Limitations
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Please look at this historical blueprint map. Here is an illustration on how many saloons were allowed to conduct business under Ordinance No. 1434, which was issued and approved by the Common Council.
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June 9, 1910- First Prohibit Boxing Contest
See the application from manager of the Dreamland Pavilion asking for a permit to hold a boxing contest.
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December 18, 1911 – Vending Machines
Back in 1911, the Autosales Gum and Chocolate Company inquired with the City Council for a license for vending machines. Fast forward to today, vending machines are everywhere, serving up all sorts of tasty treats and snacks! But did you know that vending machines have a really fascinating history? Coin-operated machines that dispensed tobacco were being operated as early as 1615 in the taverns of England. In 1867, stamp vending machines made their debut, and by 1883, we had the first modern postcard vending machine. The real boom, though, came between the 1920s and 1960s, when it felt like you could find just about anything in a vending machine! Honestly, there’s nearly no limit to what these machines can offer—it's only limited by our imagination!
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1935 – A Genuinely International Exposition
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Check out this photo of three Chinese ladies from the California Pacific Exposition in 1935! Doesn’t it capture a beautiful moment? Two of the ladies are elegantly sporting traditional cheongsams, while the one in the center looks all set for adventure in her stylish pilot outfit. The California Pacific International Exposition was held from May 29, 1935–November 11, 1935 and February 12, 1936–September 9, 1936. It was such a fantastic showcase of international culture, with ladies in traditional costume from various countries really bringing that global flair to the exhibition!
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1919 – Municipal Camp Grounds in Balboa Park
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Take a look at this amazing historic photo from circa 1919 that captures camping at Balboa Park! After serving as the site for the Panama-California Exposition from 1915 to 1917, the park became a temporary military base during World War I. Once the war was over, Balboa Park happily returned to its role as a spot for recreation and public events.
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1969 - Safety First
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Look at this photo of the Fire Department personnel at work in the San Diego Fire Alarm Communications Building on Marston Point. 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 the old fire alarm station forever in 1970.
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September 16, 1904 – Irving J. Gill’s Petition
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Please review this petition submitted by Irving J. Gill to the City Council in 1904. He proposed a new method for sidewalk paving that would alter the color and appearance of traditional sidewalks. Notably, the document includes a beautiful hand-drawn design that remains remarkably well preserved even after 120 years.
Irving John Gill (1870-1936) is widely recognized as San Diego's most prominent and innovative architect. Twelve of his buildings in Southern California are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and numerous others have been designated as historic by local government authorities. His notable works include the George W. Marston House, Maj. Myles Moylan House, Old Scripps Building, Horton Plaza Fountain, First Church of Christ, Administration Building for the Panama-California Exposition, La Jolla Woman's Club, the earliest structures at The Bishop's School, the residence of Ellen Browning Scripps, etc.
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1954 - Lights, Camera, Action
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Here is an interesting photo of seven actresses performing in San Diego Junior Theatre's performance of Babes in Toyland, including Wanda Adamson, Carolyn Parker, and Barbara Blanchard. 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.
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1935 – Wells Fargo, San Francisco Model
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Check out this fascinating photo from the California Pacific Exposition in 1935. It showcases a model of San Francisco's Montgomery Street back in 1852. Isn't it amazing how realistic it looks? The street is bustling with hotel, restaurant, saloon, and more. Notably, you can spot Wells Fargo & Co. — founded by Henry Wells and William George Fargo in 1852 to cater to the banking and express needs during the California Gold Rush. Such an intriguing piece of history!
