Health & Fitness
Field Guide of Coronado History: The Great White Fleet
Another in a regular series of fascinating, intriguing, or thoughtful tales about people and places in Nado history -- presented by your Coronado Historical Association
Another in a regular series of fascinating, intriguing, or thoughtful tales about people and places in Nado history -- presented by your Coronado Historical Association
Coronado’s greatest spectacle ever? Probably.
Coronado on the national and international stage? Yes.
Find out what's happening in Coronadowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The beginning of the magic between Coronado and the Navy? Undeniably!
Noon, April 14th 1908. Four divisions of the powerful main battle fleet of the United States – 16 potent battleships – dropped anchor in crisp naval manner in a lines that lay abreast of the Hotel del Coronado. Too large to enter the shallows of San Diego Bay, the ships presented a stunning vista from Coronado beach. Huge, formidable, and stunningly painted in brilliant white and tan; these ships were in the midst of an around-the-world cruise that would change forever America’s standing as a world power.
Find out what's happening in Coronadowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In Coronado, everything stopped. At a time when San Diego’s population amounted to only 40,000 and Coronado’s stood at only several hundred, everyone dropped what they were doing and flocked to the beach.
The springtime weather was dazzling. The Del hosted a glittering formal naval ball, homes in Coronado opened their doors to visiting bluejackets, and nowhere could a sailor use his money – everything was free.
Electric lighting was still relatively new but the Navy outlined the superstructures and masts of each ship in vivid electric light and their nightly displays of powerful searchlights sweeping the skies were breathtaking.
The fleet weighed anchor after only four days but their impact can be felt even today. The organizer for the Fleet’s activities, William Kettner of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, would rise to become an influential congressman who steered some of the first major naval appropriations to San Diego and Coronado. Many junior officers aboard the battleships would later rise to high rank (including Admirals Raymond Spruance and Bull Halsey) and would remember that magical April weekend off Coronado as they supported efforts to increase naval presence in San Diego and Coronado.
Things would never be same for Coronado after April 1908. (BL)
