California Building and Tower, San Diego

The California Building and California Tower, situated in Balboa Park, San Diego, are esteemed historical edifices. They were constructed for the Panama-California Exposition held from 1915 to 1916, serving as the grand entrance to the Expo. Architect Bertram Goodhue designed both the buildings and the courtyard. On May 17, 1974, the California Building and California Tower were added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The California Building, distinguished by its intricate facade and blue-and-gold dome, alongside the adjoining California Tower, stands as an iconic landmark in San Diego. Currently, they house the Museum of US. The design and ornamentation of these structures amalgamate various stylistic elements such as Gothic, Plateresque, Baroque, Churrigueresque, and Rococo, evoking the ambiance of a Spanish Colonial church. The dome's design drew inspiration from the dome of the Church of Santa Prisca and San Sebastián in Taxco, Mexico.

Adorning the building's facade are stone embellishments and numerous sculpted figures and busts, crafted from modeling clay and plaster. These portray significant personalities from California, England, Mexico, and Spain, including Junípero Serra, Philip III of Spain, Sebastián Vizcaíno, George Vancouver, Luís Jayme, and Carlos III of Spain, among others. The facade also showcases the United States shield and the coats of arms of California and Mexico.

The California Tower, standing at 198 feet (60 meters), opened for public tours on January 1, 2015. The Spanish design and vibrant Mexican-inspired colors make it visually captivating. The tower has three tiers, transitioning from a quadrangle to an octagon and then to a circle. Inside, a Maas-Rowe carillon, installed in 1946 and replaced in 1967, plays melodic tunes throughout the park. It chimes the Westminster Chimes every fifteen minutes and a carillonneur performs three songs at noon each day. Known as "San Diego's Icon," the tower is the city's most famous landmark, frequently photographed.