Flashback: Dec. 31, 1914 — The night San Diego heard its first organ music

by Debbie L. Sklar • Times of San Diego

Concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion at the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park, San Diego, Wikipedia

On Dec. 31, 1914, San Diego welcomed a gift that would resonate for generations: the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. The pavilion, donated by the Spreckels brothers, John D. and Adolph, marked not just a building or an instrument, but a cultural milestone for the city.

John D. Spreckels in 1901 (Photo via Wikipedia/Public Domain)

That night, the San Diego Popular Orchestra and a People’s Chorus of 250 joined together as Dr. Humphrey J. Stewart, organist and curator, played the first music on the massive outdoor pipe organ, filling the evening air with melodies that everyone could enjoy.

The Organ pavilion from the opposite arcade. At the bottom of the main cross axis of the Exposition and fronting on the Plaza, the Los Estados stands the permanent structure of the outdoor organ pavilion given to the Exposition and the city of San Diego by John D. and Adolph B. Spreckels. This building, of which Harrison Albright was the architect, consists of a great proscenium with a somewhat flat gable with finals at the top and corners, and the whole is ornamented with delicate Plateresque detail. Curving around at the sides are colonnaded walks in the form of a peristyle through which is a beautiful view of the distant city and sea. The organ, permanently presided over by Humphrey J. Stewart, Mus.., Doc., has four manuals and 62 speaking stops. (Photo via Wikipedia/Public Domain)

At the dedication, John D. Spreckels addressed the crowd, saying, “I beg you to accept this gift on behalf of the people of San Diego.” Responding on behalf of the city, John F. Forward Jr., then president of the Park Commission, added, “In the name of the people of San Diego and of those untold multitudes who in all the coming years shall stand before this glorious organ and be moved by its infinite voices, I thank you.”

These words captured the sense of pride, generosity, and civic vision surrounding the pavilion’s debut.

Fountain dedicated to workers of the 1936 California Pacific International Exposition at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. (Photo via Wikipedia/Public Domain)

The pavilion was built as part of preparations for the Panama‑California Exposition, a world-class event celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal and showcasing San Diego to the world. Situated in the heart of Balboa Park, the Spreckels Organ Pavilion quickly became a hub for concerts, civic events, and cultural life, offering residents and visitors alike a place to gather, be inspired, and experience the city’s growing sophistication.

Over the years, the pavilion has hosted countless performances, from classical recitals to local celebrations. Its open-air design allows thousands of listeners to enjoy music free of charge, making it a living testament to the Spreckels brothers’ vision of community, culture, and accessibility. The organ itself, one of the largest outdoor pipe organs in the world, remains a marvel of engineering and artistry.

Spreckels Pavilion, Balboa Park. (Photo courtesy of BalboaPark.org)

More than a century later, the Spreckels Organ Pavilion stands as a symbol of generosity, ambition, and San Diego’s enduring love of music. Every note played there echoes the voices of those who first celebrated its dedication, reminding visitors that one thoughtful gift can leave a lasting imprint on a city and its people.

Source

Balboa Park History PDF: dedication ceremony quotes and inaugural music details.
City of San Diego Parks & Recreation: overview of the organ and pavilion’s gift to the city. Carleton Monroe Winslow, The Architecture and the Gardens of the San Diego Exposition, San Francisco: Paul Elder and Company, 1916: architectural and historical details of the pavilion.

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