Hotel del Coronado

 Hotel del Coronado

We had another relaxing day without anything planned so we took a self guided 2.5 hour audio historical tour of the hotel and the grounds.  It was well worth the time and money.  We learned a lot and appreciated the little vignettes that were included.

Here is where we started…

This remarkable hotel was built in 11 months in 1887 and was the largest wooden building in the country. With no Home Depot or Lowe’s nearby, they had their own wood mill and brick making factory on the grounds.   

Families would come here and spend months, renting several rooms for the entire family and their staff (nannies, nurses, teachers).  There were 475 rooms and only 70 bathrooms.  But to make up for that, children were treated to pony rides and a petting zoo with parrots, monkeys, ostriches etc.  

I cannot imagine how much luggage would have been necessary for a whole family for such an extended vacation!  Most came clear from the east coast.

Many famous people vacationed here…like Babe Ruth…

Marilyn Monroe

President and Mrs. Roosevelt 

And here is a list of others…

I have a feeling that famous people haven’t stopped coming here but I believe their privacy is a bit more protected now.  At least I hope so.

This is the Crown Room which is a large dining room but is not being used for dining during our pandemic.  The high ceiling woodwork is phenomenal and the room is huge.

This is where a small orchestra would play for the diners.

This is the coronation window…beautiful.

From the mezzanine overlooking the lobby.

This is the Babcock & Story Bar with a Brunswick bar ( the second one we found on this trip!)

Below is a small cottage on the property that Wallis Simpson and her husband (high in the naval military) lived in for awhile…she divorced that husband and married another husband then divorced him and then fell in love with the Prince of Wales who wanted to make her the queen of England when he became the King ( King Edward VIII) but since he was the head of the Church of England, it would be too scandalous  for the king to marry a divorcée, especially an American, so he abdicated the throne, married his true love and lived happily ever after, keeping the title of Prince of Wales and Wallis was the Princess of Wales).  That was quite the news story of the day.  Maybe this is similar to Prince Harry and Meghan leaving the royal life behind.

This was the special china that was served for a reception of the Prince of Wales (while Wallis was living here with her first husband). We think there was a little tête-à-tête here before she even divorced her first two husbands that led to the relationship that eventually led to Edward’s abdication.  

We ended the day with a spectacular meal and a beautiful sunset.