Cabrillo Bridge, San Diego

The Cabrillo Bridge, located in San Diego, holds great historical significance as it serves as a vital link for pedestrians and light vehicles between Balboa Park and the Uptown area of San Diego. Its construction was initiated for the 1915 Panama–California Exposition. Recognizing its historical value, the bridge was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and earned the distinction of being a Local Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1986.

The bridge's primary function was to facilitate passage across Cabrillo Canyon, formerly known as Pound Canyon, which was utilized for livestock such as cattle and horses during the late 19th century. Initially, architect Bertram Goodhue conceptualized a design featuring three grand arches, inspired by the Alcántara Bridge in Toledo, Spain. However, Frank P. Allen Jr. convinced the Balboa Park commissioners to opt for a more economical design by Thomas B. Hunter from San Francisco, resembling bridges found in Mexico and Spain. This innovative design boasted a multiple-arched cantilever structure, making it the first of its kind in California.

When it was first unveiled, the bridge primarily served as a pedestrian pathway for visitors to the 1915 Exposition. The dedication took place on April 12, 1914, with Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, presiding over the ceremony. Roosevelt, accompanied by Charles F. O'Neill, the city's mayor, made the inaugural automobile crossing. In the following years, vehicle traffic was mostly reserved for dignitaries. Roosevelt returned in 1935, this time as the President of the United States, and crossed the bridge once again during Balboa Park's second exposition.