Cabrillo Bridge, San Diego

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.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Diego. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Cabrillo Bridge on Map

Sight Name: Cabrillo Bridge
Sight Location: San Diego, USA (See walking tours in San Diego)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in San Diego, California

Create Your Own Walk in San Diego

Create Your Own Walk in San Diego

Creating your own self-guided walk in San Diego is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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Historic Gaslamp District Walking Tour

The Gaslamp Quarter is a lively 16½-block neighborhood in downtown San Diego, known for its nightlife, diverse entertainment and, just as importantly, historical appeal.

Back in the 1860s, the area was known as New Town, in contrast to Old Town, the original Spanish colonial settlement. After a period of decay, the neighborhood underwent redevelopment during the 1980s and 1990s, and was...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Balboa Park Walking Tour

Balboa Park Walking Tour

Named after the Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Balboa Park is one of the largest cultural parks in the United States. A renowned cultural and recreational hub, it offers a plethora of attractions and activities for visitors of all ages.

One of the prominent landmarks within the park is the California Building and Tower, which boasts stunning Spanish-Colonial Revival architecture....  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Old Town Walking Tour

Old Town Walking Tour

Old Town is the oldest settled area in San Diego which claims to be the first site visited by Europeans on the West Coast of modern United States.

The Native American culture in the area, however, goes back thousands of years. Historically, this land had been a home to the Kumeyaay people who settled on the banks of the San Diego river since around 1000 AD. The first European explorer to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


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