A Brief Journey into California History

My company is exhibiting at trade show in San Diego. Because it was so close to Orange County, they assigned certain people to attend on certain days. Since I manage trade show activity, I had to go to the convention center Saturday to set-up the booth. That, in and of itself, was pretty uneventful. But I did do something exciting afterward: I went to see the historic Hotel Del Coronado.


The world famous Hotel del Coronado. (02/03/07)

I had been there once in 1986 or 1987. I made my parents take me there. It was during the height of my Marilyn Monroe phase.

The hotel, as you're probably aware, was one of the locations where they filmed Some Like it Hot (which today is still one of my favorite movies). But when my boss Dori, who spent New Year's Eve there, showed me pictures of her stay, I decided it deserved a second visit.


The main courtyard. (02/03/07)

Built in 1887, the Hotel Del Coronado is one of the few surviving examples of an American architectural genre, the wooden Victorian beach resort. Few seaside resort hotels of this significant architectural style remain in America.

The hotel has hosted 10 U.S. presidents, starting with Benjamin Harrison in 1891. Many other national figures have stayed there, including Thomas Edison, Babe Ruth, Charles Lindbergh, etc.


It's one of America's largest wooden buldings. (02/03/07)

Another notable guest: Edward VIII, the one-time King of England who abdicated the throne to marry the twice-divorced American socialite and one-time Coronado island resident, Wallis Spencer Simpson. Some people suggest that they met at the hotel, although no one knows for certain.

In addition to Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, the hotel has also seen a steady streem of other celebrity visitors, from Charlie Chaplin and Humphrey Bogart to Brad Pitt and Madonna.


The haunted room, number 3327. (02/03/07)

The hotel is also home to a ghost! In 1892, a woman named Kate Morgan checked into room 3327 to meet her estranged husband who never showed. Several days later, Kate's body was found on the hotel steps leading to the ocean. Since her tragic death, witnesses have been puzzled by odd noises, spirited breezes, strange faces and the ghostly figure of a young lady dressed in a black lace dress. Many believe her spirit is still waiting for her husband in room 3327.


The famed Crown Jewel martini. (02/03/07)

Mostly, I just walked around taking pictures. But I did want to take home at least one special memory of the hotel, so I decided to have a drink at Babcock & Story bar, an oceanfront bar in the main building. I ordered the bar's famous Crown Jewel Martini, a drink that has been enjoyed by dignitaries and stars throughout the Del's rich history. It had Crown Royal, Martini & Rossi and brandied cherries.

And let me tell you: The drink was terrible! But at $10.50, I was going to finish that sucka if it was the last thing I do. And I did. At least it was memorable!