Point Loma’s La Playa Trail Association will hold its first presentation in the fall lecture series: “Homeport: Point Loma, Part 2,” on Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 5:30-7 p.m., detailing the further expeditions of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the U.S. Navy, and other remarkable events involving Point Loma. Everyone is welcome at Point Loma Assembly, 3035 Talbot St.
The speaker, retired Scripps Institution ocean engineer, Kevin Hardy, has drawn material from personal experience, published texts, and historical accounts. Hardy will recap his first presentation to the LPTA in January 2020, then detail the further impact of Point Loma on world history.
From the distant time of Native Peoples to the arrival of Spanish explorers, to today as homeport to the U.S. Navy Submarine Base, the lee side of Point Loma and its near-shore deep water has been a favorite place to dock in San Diego Bay. The world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography has tied its ships to docks on Point Loma from 1924 until now. Point Loma has been the home port to extraordinary missions to the sea that have pushed the boundaries of ocean engineering, marine science, international commerce, and naval warfare.
The first tide gauge for San Diego was installed in 1854 at Old La Playa, indicating the site’s importance to maritime trade. The commercial anchorage at Old La Playa near Ballast Point was the terminus of a historic bayside trail, connecting merchant ships to the settled inland areas of Old Town San Diego. La Playa Trail is recognized as the oldest commercial trail in the Western United States. The original sites extend to the grounds of Naval Base Point Loma, accessible to the public during the annual Cabrillo Festival.
Alonzo Horton expanded berthing as part of his development of “New San Diego” in the 1860s, now known as “downtown San Diego.” The first dredging of San Diego Bay was done and a new nautical chart was released in 1892. Commercial shipping moved to the piers downtown. The U.S. Navy Submarine Support Facility, Scripps Institution’s Marine Facilities, sport fishing docks, two yacht clubs, and numerous ship chandlers remain in Point Loma.
Hardy will be joined by noted local author, and PLHS Pointer alum, John Freeman, to debut his new book, “Astounding! A Pictorial History of San Diego.” Initially inspired by an earlier Hardy presentation, Freeman has gone way beyond, assembling a broad collection of tales of San Diego’s talent and accomplishment in numerous fields. Autographed copies will be available that evening at a reduced cost of $20.
