Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with the PBS App
The 1915 EXPO CENTENNIAL series uses rare, historic black and white photos and film to tell the story of City Park and how the Exposition was planned.
The series promises to give television viewers a unique glimpse into the 1915 Exposition. Find out how City Park was planned and meet the key city leaders who created the urban park for San Diego. Learn about Balboa Park's architectural and landscaping designs, world-renowned architects, rare historic black and white photos and film that show unique aspects of the fair. We'll also show you rare artifacts from the 1915 Exposition and unique behind the scenes tours of the park, museum vaults and historic buildings.
Episode 3: "Rare Expo Black & White Film, Foreign Arts Building, San Diego History Center Ephemera, Expo Historic Artifacts" - Historic black and white photos and film show great detail of how Balboa Park was constructed, and how the 1915 Expo was planned. While there are thousands of photos from the era that depict the exterior buildings, there are a few, rare photos that show the inside. See ephemera that demonstrates the ingenious and successful marketing strategies used to attract visitors from the East Coast to San Diego. And you'll want to see how the Piccirilli Brothers from New York would create spectacular ornamentation for various park buildings.

All past episodes of SAN DIEGO'S HISTORIC PLACES are available for streaming with the PBS App. Watch the best of PBS anytime, anywhere on the free PBS app. Stream your favorite PBS shows on-demand and livestream shows from your local station, all from your favorite device.

As San Diego continues to grow, the shrinking inventory of historic homes and public spaces becomes even more important. SAN DIEGO'S HISTORIC PLACES, hosted by Elsa Sevilla, shares tales from the past, reigniting the love affair with San Diego's special places. Sevilla Productions is on Facebook.