A San Diego Treasure:
A local and national treasure, the Hotel del Coronado is located in the City of Coronado, just across the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge. It is one of the few surviving examples of an American architectural genre: the wooden Victorian beach resort and is the largest beach resort on the North American Pacific Coast.
What Makes It Special?:
As a National Historic Landmark, the Hotel del Coronado has a rich and colorful heritage that sets it apart from most hotels. From Marilyn Monroe to Charles Lindbergh, from state dinners to the ghost of Kate Morgan, The Del is an American treasure with over 115 years of fascinating stories to tell.
What About The Architecture?:
The Del's visionary founders - Elisha Babcock and H.L. Story - dreamed of building a seaside resort that would be "the talk of the Western world." In 1885, they bought all of Coronado and North Island for $110,000. They hired architect James Reid and construction was completed in 11 months in 1888 at a cost of $1 million. Labor was provided by Chinese immigrants and is one of the oldest and largest all-wooden buildings in California. It was diesginated a National Historic Landmark in 1977.
The Splendor of the Del:
The hotel was initially built as a premier resort for the wealthy, and over the years, many notable guests have stayed at the Del. Thomas Edison, L. Frank Baum, Charlie Chaplin, Babe Ruth and Charles Lindbergh. Edward VIII was a guest of the hotel in 1920. At the time his future wife Wallis Simpson was a Coronado resident. They even may have met each other at the hotel.
The Host of Presidents:
So spectacular is the hotel that it has become a favorite destination for many an American president when visiting San Diego. Among the presidents who have stayed at the Del: Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.
Some Like It Hot:
Because of its stunning and unique architecture, it's no surprise the Hotel Del has been used as a backdrop in movies and television. And its most famous claim to fame was its supporting role to one of Hollywood's most enduring icons, Marilyn Monroe, in her film classic, "Some Like It Hot." The 1958 comedy romp, also starring Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, cemented the Del's status as an architectural celebrity.
Ghosts in the Attic?:
What Victorian resort would be complete without a resident ghost? Kate Morgan checked into room 3312 (renumbered to 3327) on November 25, 1892. She was there to meet with her estranged husband Tom, but he never arrived. She was found dead on the beach four days later. While initially declared a suicide, forensic evidence processed over a century later revealed she was shot. Reports of ghostly happenings have been circulating at the Del ever since, all thought to be connected to the death of this beautiful young woman.
Hotel Del Essentials:
The Hotel del Coronado is the quintessential California resort on the beach. Located on 28 oceanfront acres, The Del is just across the bay from downtown San Diego and near many of the city's attractions. It is only a 15-minute drive from San Diego International Airport.
Although it is a favorite destination among tourists, it is just as treasured by San Diego residents as well. Locals flock to the Del to experience the grounds and restaurants for the day, and the beach adjacent to the hotel is one of the finest found in California.
Hotel Del Coronado
1500 Orange Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118
800-HOTELDEL
619-435-6611
