The San Diego Society of Natural History is the oldest scientific institution in Southern California. In just two years the organization will celebrate its sesquicentennial (and 150 years of scientific contributions). The current location of the San Diego Natural History Museum is its fourth in Balboa Park, purchased in 1933 with contributions from local philanthropist, Ellen Browning Scripps. The exterior is as grand as the collection of fossils, art, skeletons, minerals, and animals inside. Traveling through 75 million years of history has never been so fascinating, and easy.
The Moreton Bay Fig tree out front was planted just twenty years before the museum moved to its current location. It tree trunk has since grown to a width of forty feet. It must be all that San Diego sun.
Ah I miss the San Diego sun! We have sun here now but not the same when you still have to wear a winter coat. Great exhibition! Lea would love it.
I love the Fig tree and always end my Balboa Park trips with a visit to it. Like an old friend.
When I was younger we used to climb all over that tree! Ahhh, memories…
I hope the Botanical Gardens aren’t an old friend too… because they are getting a facelift. We wanted to go there after the Nat but it was completely gutted, surrounded by a construction fence with a little peephole torn into it by curious visitors.
That sounds like a fun activity!
I hope the Gardens restoration is completed by September, but even if not I’ll visit.