From the second floor of the Museum, you go up a staircase hidden to the public for decades. Then you climb seven floors, getting glimpses through narrow windows of the beauty outside. Finally, you climb a spiral metal stairway and emerge into sunlight where you will see a spectacular Southern California vista. All of the California Buildings, as the structures housing the Museum of Man are called, were completed in 1914, and officially opened in 1915 as part of the Panama-California Exposition. They were designed by Bertram Goodhue, who was inspired by the churches of Mexico and Spain. Even though the California Buildings resemble a church, they have never been a church and have been exhibition halls from the start — except when they were used as a Naval hospital during World War II. The Tower was closed to the public shortly after the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition.Use our San Diego trip itinerary planning app to visit California Tower on your trip to San Diego, and learn what else travelers and our writers recommend seeing nearby.
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California Tower Reviews
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Visit date: November 19, 2017 I was on 4:20pm tour and it was PERFECT time for sunset. I go to Balboa Park on a weekly basis and I thought I've already known most of it. I was so wrong! The whole expe... more »
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Don't let the amount of steps stop you from going on this tour. They're easy steps to navigate and there is a landing to rest and receive historical info along the way. Gives you time to get ready for... more »
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Very charming old Spanish architecture, a landmark in Balboa Park. Your eye is drawn to this lovely building as it stands above all else. more »
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The view from the tower is great, but I would have liked to spend a bit more time at the top. You can learn some interesting history too. There is no elevator so you are climbing stairs to the tower but it really is not to bad and they make stops along the way.
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Not really that impressive. You don't actually get to go to the top of the tower and The view is so-so.
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I Liked It I Saw It Once There's A Maas Rowe Digital Chronobell System That Amplifies Thin Medal Rod Bars In The Carllion Struck By A Hammer That's Y The Chimes Sounds Pretty
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The California Tower is 198 feet (60 m) tall and is open for public tours as of January 1, 2015. The tower's design is Spanish while the details and color are Mexican in style. The tower is composed of three tiers that shift from a quadrangle to an octagon and then a circle. There is a Maas-Rowe carillon in the tower, first installed in 1946 and replaced in 1967. The carillon can be heard throughout the park. It plays the Westminster Chimes every quarter-hour, and a resident carilloneur plays three songs at noon every day. The tower has been described as "San Diego's Icon," the most photographed and best-known landmark in San Diego. As I journey through Balboa Park on my daily walks, it is an extreme joy and pleasure to hear the chimes of the carillon in the background. I love the chimes! Der California Tower ist 198 Fuß (60 m) hoch und ist offen für öffentliche Führungen ab dem 1. Januar 2015. Der Turm Design ist Spanisch, während die Details und Farbe in der Art mexikanischen sind. Der Turm besteht aus drei Schichten, die aus einem Viereck zu einem Achteck und dann einen Kreis verschieben. Es gibt einen Maas-Rowe Carillon im Turm, zuerst im Jahr 1946 installiert und ersetzt im Jahr 1967. Das Carillon kann über den Park zu hören. Es spielt die Westminster Chimes jede Viertelstunde, und ein Bewohner Glockenspieler spielt täglich am Mittag drei Lieder. Der Turm wurde als "San Diego Icon", das am meisten fotografierte und bekannteste Sehenswürdigkeit in San Diego beschrieben. Als ich Reise durch Balboa Park auf meine täglichen Spaziergänge, ist es eine extreme Freude und Vergnügen, die Glocken des Glockenspiels im Hintergrund zu hören. Ich liebe die Glocken! La Tour de Californie est de 198 pieds (60 m) de haut et est ouvert pour des visites publiques à compter du 1er Janvier 2015. La conception de la tour est l'espagnol tandis que les détails et les couleurs sont mexicaine dans le style. La tour est composée de trois niveaux qui changent d'un quadrilatère à un octogone et d'un cercle. Il y a un carillon Maas-Rowe dans la tour, d'abord installé en 1946 et remplacé en 1967. Le carillon peut être entendu dans tout le parc. Il joue le Chimes Westminster chaque quart d'heure, et un carillonneur résident joue trois chansons à midi tous les jours. La tour a été décrit comme "Icône de San Diego," le point de repère le plus photographié et le plus connu à San Diego. Comme je voyage à travers Balboa Park sur mes promenades quotidiennes, il est une joie extrême et le plaisir d'entendre le carillon du carillon en arrière-plan. J'adore les carillons! La Torre de California es de 198 pies (60 m) de altura y está abierto para visitas públicas a partir del 1 de enero de 2015. El diseño de la torre es español, mientras que los detalles y el color son mexicana en estilo. La torre se compone de tres niveles que cambian de un cuadrilátero a un octógono y luego un círculo. Hay un carillón Maas-Rowe en la torre, instalado por primera vez en 1946 y reemplazado en 1967. El carillón se escucha por todo el parque. Desempeña el Westminster Chimes cada cuarto de hora, y un residente carilloneur juega tres canciones al mediodía todos los días. La torre ha sido descrito como "Icono de San Diego," el monumento más fotografiado y más conocido en San Diego. Mientras avanzo a través de Balboa Park, en mis paseos diarios, se trata de una extrema alegría y el placer de escuchar las campanadas del carillón en el fondo. Me encanta las campanadas! La Torre della California è di 198 piedi (60 m) di altezza ed è aperto per visite pubbliche a partire dal 1 gennaio 2015. Il design della torre è spagnolo, mentre i dettagli e colori sono messicano in stile. La torre è composta da tre livelli che cambiano da un quadrilatero ad un ottagono e quindi un cerchio. C'è un carillon Maas-Rowe nella torre, prima installato nel 1946 e sostituita nel 1967. Il carillon può essere ascoltato in tutto il parco. Essa svolge la Westminster Chimes ogni quarto d'ora, e un carilloneur residente suona tre canzoni a mezzogiorno tutti i giorni. Magnifico!
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This is worth doing even if you are a long time San Diego resident. Go on a sunny clear day to get a panoramic views of the landscape. The sunny clear day part shouldn't be too hard to plan for. You might also see the giant 747 flying direct from Heathrow to Lindberg Field in the evening depending on the time of year.
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