The Ford Building, San Diego
historic place
The Ford Building in San Diego, California, is a significant historic place. It was constructed in 1935 by the Ford Motor Company for the California Pacific International Exposition. Industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague designed the building in the Streamline Moderne architectural style. Its unique design resembles a V8 engine, featuring two different-sized circles in the shape of an "8." The courtyard includes a fountain shaped like the Ford V8 logo. Initially, the building showcased Ford's automotive displays. After the 1935 fair, it became "The Palace of Transportation" for the 1936 exposition. Over the years, it served various functions. During World War II, from 1941 to 1946, the San Diego Vocational School used it to train aircraft employees. The City of San Diego designated the Ford Building as a Historic Landmark on April 7, 1972. It was then listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 26, 1973. Since June 28, 1980, the Ford Building has housed the San Diego Air & Space Museum. A bronze tablet, accepted in 1940, notes the building as a gift from Henry and Edsel Ford in 1935. This structure remains an outstanding example of 1930s Streamline Moderne architecture.