Terram Frumenti Hordei, ac Vinarum, in qua Ficus et Malogranata et Oliveta Nascuntur, Terram Olei ac Mellis. It’s inscribed around the great central dome. This Latin phrase means “A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey.” The California motto, “Eureka,” is also there. Welcome to Building 9.
Building 9 stands as a testament to San Diego’s rich history. It is a landmark within the California Quadrangle. This quadrangle is a collection of historic structures. They were built for the 1915 to 1916 Panama-California Exposition. Building 9 served as the grand entry to the event.
Architect Bertram Goodhue designed the buildings and courtyard. Building 9 was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 17, 1974. Today, it houses the Museum of Us. The Quadrangle includes the California Building and Tower. Evernham Hall and the St. Francis Chapel are also included. An open space links them with arcaded passageways and arched gateways. This forms the Plaza de California.
Now, focus your attention on the California Building. Notice its ornate facade and blue-and-gold dome. These features make it a recognizable landmark. The design combines Gothic, Plateresque, Baroque, Churrigueresque, and Rococo elements. This creates the impression of a Spanish Colonial church. The multi-tiered frontispiece features sculptures by the Piccirilli Brothers. This family of Italian marble carvers also worked on the Lincoln Memorial. Attilio and Furio Piccirilli modeled historical figures on the California Building’s frontispiece. Furio also created the spandrel figures above the West Gate. These figures represent the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The Panama Canal’s opening joined them. Orazio and Masaniello executed the ornamental work on the building.
Note the historical figures sculpted on the facade. These depict prominent people from California, England, Mexico, and Spain. Junípero Serra, Philip III of Spain, and Sebastián Vizcaíno are included. Also present are George Vancouver, Luís Jayme, and Carlos III of Spain. Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, Gaspar de Portolà, and Antonio de la Ascensión are also featured. The facade displays the shield of the United States. You can also see the coats of arms of California and Mexico.
Let’s turn our gaze to the California Tower. It stands 198 feet tall. Public tours are available since January 1, 2015. Its design is Spanish with Mexican details and colors. The tower has three tiers that shift from a quadrangle to an octagon and then a circle. A Maas-Rowe carillon is in the tower. It was first installed in 1946 and replaced in 1967. The carillon plays the Westminster Chimes every quarter-hour. A resident carillonneur plays three songs at noon daily. The tower is known as “San Diego’s Icon.” It is the most photographed landmark in San Diego.
The State of California paid $250,000 to develop the California Building and Tower. This was for the 1915 Exposition. California owned the building but turned it over to San Diego in 1926. During the Exposition, the California Building housed the expo’s theme exhibit. It was an anthropological display called “The Story of Man through the Ages.” After the expo, the exhibit became the Museum of Us.
Building 9 and the California Quadrangle represent a unique blend of architectural styles. They stand as a tribute to San Diego’s cultural heritage. As you explore, consider the history and artistry that define this iconic landmark.