By Susan Berg
The History of Hotel del Coronado
The Hotel del Coronado is an iconic seaside
resort in
San Diego, California. Opened to the public in the late 1880s, the building is listed as a National Historic Landmark. This famous hotel has been host to a number of dignitary and celebrities including Charles Lindbergh and the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII until he abdicated the throne).
Location
The Hotel del Coronado (commonly called "The Del") is an oceanside property located on the Coronado Peninsula across the San Diego Bay.
Vision
Elisha S. Babock and H.L. Story, the builders of the hotel, envisioned the Hotel del Coronado to be "the largest hotel in the world . . . too gorgeous to be true."
Opening
The hotel opened to the public on February 19, 1888.
Famous Guests
Guests at The Del have included 11 American presidents, Babe Ruth, L. Frank Baum (author of "The Wizard of Oz"), Thomas Edison, Charlie Chaplin, Humphrey Bogart, Madonna and Brad Pitt.
Ghosts
The Del is rumored to host a ghostly resident. On November 25, 1892, Kate Morgan checked into the hotel--but she never checked out. Any unusual occurrences at the hotel are rumored to be caused by her.
About the Author:
A writer and editor based in southeastern Wyoming, Susan Berg has over ten years of experience in the field. Berg earned a Master of Arts degree in journalism from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Dayton. Her work has been published in the "Dayton Daily News" and online at websites including BiologyBiozine.com, Wcities.com, Trails.com, Travels.com and eHow.com.
Photo Credits:
Rich Niewiroski Jr. (Wikimedia Commons)
