From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Shelter Island, San Diego
Shelter Island, San Diego
Shelter Island is a neighborhood of Point Loma in San From June through September, nationally known mu-
Diego, California. It is actually not an island but is con- sicians and comedians perform at an outdoor concert
nected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. It was venue on Shelter Island.[12] The area is a popular place
originally a sandbank in San Diego Bay, visible only at for viewing the annual Fourth of July fireworks display
low tide. It was built up into dry land using material over the Bay, as well as the Parade of Lights, a December
dredged from the bay in 1934.[1] It was developed in the tradition in which boats decorated with holiday lights
1950s[2][3] and contains hotels, restaurants, marinas, and parade on the Bay to be viewed from the shore.
public parkland. The "island" is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long and only a few
Shelter Island is owned and controlled by the Port of hundred yards wide. A single street, Shelter Island Drive,
San Diego, which also provides all police and other pub- runs the length of Shelter Island and also connects it to
lic services. Shelter Island businesses lease their location the mainland via a causeway lined with marine-related
from the Port.[4] Under California law, property on Shel- businesses.
ter Island cannot be sold and permanent residences can-
not be built there, because the area falls under the law
governing public tidelands.[5]
History and Development
Shelter Island contains several notable pieces of pub- Shelter Island was first recorded on a United States coast
lic art. The Tunaman’s Memorial, a larger-than-life and geodetic map as a “mudbank”. It was gradually
bronze sculpture by Franco Vianello, is dedicated to the formed by deposit of soil and sand from the San Diego
tuna fishermen who were formerly an important part of River. The sandbar was used to dump materials from
the area’s economy.[6] The Yokohama Friendship Bell, a dredging of San Diego Bay for US Navy requirements in
large bronze bell housed in a pagoda structure, was a World War II which required a deepening of the harbor
gift from the city of Yokohama in 1958 to commemorate channel, further building it up. In the late 1940’s The
the sister city relationship between San Diego and Yoko- San Diego Harbor Commission undertook a dredging pro-
hama.[7]. Pacific Rim Park at the southwestern end of gram that provided a new entrance to the yacht basin,
Shelter Island was created by artist James Hubbell and is and the dredged material was used to connect Shelter Is-
centered on a round bubbling fountain called Pearl of the land with Point Loma, and to further raise the island 14
Pacific. The fountain is surrounded by a mosaic wall and feet above low tide; then another project raised it 7 feet
a dramatic arch and is a popular place for outdoor wed- above high tide. In 1960, the media described Shelter Is-
dings.[8] land as “something from nothing”, “a testimonial to hu-
man ingenuity”, and “a man made wonderland of sub-
tropical splendor”. [13]
References
[1] "YACHTING: Its History In San Diego", Journal of San
Shelter Island Marina Diego History, Fall 1974, Volume 20, Number 4.
[2] Port of San Diego
Shelter Island contains one yacht club, the Silvergate [3] Bali Hai restaurant
Yacht Club, and it creates a sheltered harbor for two [4] San Diego Port Tenants Association
others, the San Diego Yacht Club and the Southwestern [5] Limitations on State Disposal of Lands
Yacht Club. [6] Port of San Diego: Tunaman’s Memorial
Shelter Island is known as a destination for supery- [7] Port of San Diego: Yokohama Friendship Bell
achts[9] because it contains one of the few marinas in San [8] Port of San Diego: Pearl of the Pacific
Diego Bay with a deep enough harbor for these oversized [9] "San Diego: The new super-yacht capital?", CNN,
vessels. The annual YachtFest, spotlighting superyachts, March 5, 2009.
is held at Shelter Island Marina every September.[10] The [10] San Diego Union Tribune, Sept. 20, 2009
event also features mock gunbattles between two repli- [11] San DIego Union Tribune, Sept. 21, 2009
cas of 19th century tall ships from the collection of the [12] humphreysconcerts.com
San Diego Maritime Museum.[11] [13] Los Angeles Times, 10-9-1960, “Shelter Island
Result of Man’s Ingenuity”, [1]
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Shelter Island, San Diego
32°42′52″N 117°13′34″W / 32.71444°N 117.22611°W /
32.71444; -117.22611
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelter_Island,_San_Diego"
Categories: Neighborhoods in San Diego, California, Geography of San Diego, California
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