For the moment, forget about the parking fees and savor the fact that Balboa Park is San Diego’s crown jewel, celebrated for its gardens, museums, and stunning Spanish-style architecture. But beyond the popular paths and iconic landmarks lies a treasure trove of secrets and surprises. From a hidden trolley tunnel to miniature trains and tropical oases, the park’s past is as eclectic and vibrant as the city itself. Even locals often discover something new with every stroll through the Prado, Alcazar Garden, or Palm Canyon.
Hidden Stories
Miniature Railroad Circulated the Grounds
In the 1930s, a tiny train looped around parts of the park, giving visitors leisurely tours of the gardens and Exposition buildings. Model railroading in Balboa Park began during the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, when pioneer railroader Minton Cronkhite designed several scale railroads.
Today, the Balboa Park Model Railroad Museum, opened in 1982, preserves this legacy and is the world’s largest operating model railroad museum at 28,000 square feet.
Balboa Stadium Hosted Midget Car Racing
Balboa Stadium, originally opened in 1915 as City Stadium, became a hub for midget car racing in the late 1930s and 1940s. Racing paused during World War II but resumed after 1945, drawing huge crowds as part of the UnitedRacing Association’s Red Circuit. A 1949 advertisement below highlights the final races of that season.
Palm Canyon: A Hidden Tropical Oasis
Palm Canyon spans two acres and contains more than 450 palms, including original Mexican fan palms planted around 1912. A scenic wooden footbridge connects the canyon to Alcazar Garden, and the trail linking it to the Old Cactus Garden was restored in 2001 by the California Conservation Corps.
Spanish Renaissance Beauty: San Diego Museum of Art
The Museum of Art’s Spanish Renaissance plateresque-style building, built in 1925–26 and designed by William Templeton Johnson and Robert W. Snyder, features heraldic sculptures, life-size depictions of Old Master painters, and coats-of-arms celebrating Spain, California, the U.S., and San Diego.
Alcazar Garden: A Moorish Masterpiece
Modeled after Seville’s Alcazar Castle gardens, Alcazar Garden features ornate fountains, vibrant Moorish tiles, and 7,000 annuals for year-round color. The 1935 design by architect Richard Requa was faithfully reconstructed and is available for weddings and special events.
Old Cactus Garden: Restored to Glory
The Old Cactus Garden, one of Balboa Park’s earliest horticultural exhibits, dates to the 1915 Exposition. By the 1970s, decades of neglect had left it overgrown and partially in ruin. A major restoration project in 1978 revitalized the garden, preserving its original layout, pathways, and collection of succulents and cacti. Today, it’s a peaceful oasis that blends historic charm with desert beauty.
The Zoo Was Planned … Then Moved
The San Diego Zoo began as a modest menagerie in 1916 within the park. Early planners envisioned lions, bears, and tropical birds near the botanical gardens. Eventually, the zoo outgrew the site and evolved into the world-renowned institution it is today.
A Secret Trolley Tunnel Exists
Beneath the park, some say, lie remnants of a streetcar tunnel built in the 1910s to carry visitors from downtown directly to the Exposition grounds. Now, only researchers and urban explorers can glimpse the hidden passage.
Balboa Park isn’t just gardens and museums; it’s a living chronicle of San Diego’s history, creativity, and community spirit. The next time you wander its walkways or explore its hidden corners, remember: there’s always a story waiting to be discovered.
Sources
San Diego History Center Archives
Balboa Park Historical Society
Balboa Park: A Centennial History, Richard Amero
San Diego Union-Tribune archival articles, 1910s–1930s
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