Hotel Del Coronado
Why it's listed
Hotel Del Coronado is a Victorian seaside resort hotel at 1500 Orange Avenue in Coronado, California. Designed by James W. Reid and his brother Merritt for developer Elisha S. Babcock, construction began in March 1887 and the hotel opened in February 1888, though work continued for two more years. The building rises three to five stories around a courtyard measuring 150 by 250 feet, with wood-shingled walls, dormers, gables, turrets and cupolas. Its Crown Room, Coronet Room and main lobby survive with their original woodwork, while guest rooms, the ballroom, the entrance and the grounds have been altered over time. The nomination describes it as the last of the extravagant seaside resort hotels in Southern California and one of the few remaining in the country. It cites early electric lighting installed under Thomas Edison's direction, power supplied to the peninsula until 1920, and visits by six presidents and the Prince of Wales in 1920.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the last of the extravagantly conceived seaside resort hotels in Southern California and one of few such hotels left in the United States. It is also tied to the Coronado land venture of Elisha Babcock, early electric lighting, and visits by U.S. Presidents and the Prince of Wales. It is a registered California State Historical Landmark.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000181, listed October 14, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | October 14, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000181 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1887-1888 |
| Architect / builder | James W. Reid and Merritt Reid (Reid brothers) |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 5, 1977 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent but altered; occupied and in use as a hotel. |
| Acreage | 34 |
| Coordinates | 32.68069, -117.17842 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000181.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1631096
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.