This black-and-white aerial photograph captures Mission Bay during its significant transformation from a coastal wetland and estuary into a navigable recreational body of water. The photograph showcases the extensive engineering efforts, with visible dredging and construction work, reshaping the landscape to create the bay's intricate waterway patterns. The photograph dates to the mid-20th century, during the period of major construction that significantly altered Mission Bay's natural state.
The south slope of Mount Soledad is completely unbuilt. Mission Beach and Ocean Beach are recognizably very different from their present configurations. The suburban construction in Claremont and adjacent neighborhoods and suburbs has only just begun.
Mission Bay Park, located in San Diego, California, is a 4,235-acre aquatic park featuring 27 miles of shoreline, with a variety of recreational facilities including boat docks, walking and biking paths, and beaches. Developed in the mid-20th century from a coastal wetland and estuary, it is now a premier destination for outdoor activities and water sports.
Provenance
Contemporary ballpoint inscription on the verso reading "City Planning Dept. San Diego".