The Coronado Historical Association features a Coronado History Research Center open by appointment only and changing exhibition galleries about the unique history of the community of Coronado. Topics range from the history of the Hotel del Coronado to the birthplace of military aviation on North Island. The history of this unique community-led a group of active citizens to establish the Coronado Historical Association in 1969. After over 30 years of collecting and preserving Coronado’s history, CHA moved to the historic Bank of Commerce building at 1100 Orange Avenue thanks to the generosity of Don and Leslie Budinger. In support of its mission, CHA’s special focus is on educational programs and outreach. In addition to a year-round schedule of public lectures and other thought-provoking programs for adults, such as a Preservation Symposium every spring. CHA advances learning and stewardship in all by serving as Coronado’s primary center for community history and works actively to foster a Coronado community that is increasingly vibrant, engaged, and resilient.
The Coronado Historical Association provides fun educational programs for kids of all ages and Historic Walking Tours:
Every Sunday at 11 am & Thursday at 1 pm
Location: Coronado Historical Association,
1100 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Admission: Adults $20 | Children (12 & under) $5
Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
Drawn to its sleek yet hidden shape, artists have long tried to capture the mystery of the submarine and the adventurous crews who risk underwater combat.
The Coronado Historical Association (CHA) current exhibit “A View from the Periscope”.
The exhibit unveils “A View from the Periscope” through the artist’s eye. Twenty-eight pieces of artwork from the Naval History & Heritage Command’s Navy Art Collection are on loan to CHA for the duration of the exhibit. The artworks are diverse in medium and age, but all prominently feature historic submarines commissioned in the U.S. Navy. Some of the notable artists whose works are featured in the exhibit include: Griffith Baily Coale (1890–1950), Georges Schreiber (1904–1977), Albert K. Murray (1906–1992), John Charles Roach (born c. 1943), Salvatore Indiviglia (1919–2008), and Dante Bertoni (1926–1993). Many of the artists featured are affiliated with the Navy’s Combat Art Program, which places artists on board navy ships on duty and in combat.
The exhibit also celebrates the little-known role Coronado and its sailors played in submarine history. CHA worked with the City of Coronado’s Avenue of Heroes Committee as well as local residents to identify submariners with a Coronado connection. Efforts to identify important submariners to highlight in the exhibit has been so successful that twenty-two submariners were featured at the opening of the exhibit and an additional twenty-four are planned to be added.
The exhibit is presented in partnership with the Naval History & Heritage Command and the San Diego History Center. Funding for this exhibit is provided in part by the City of Coronado’s Community Grant Program.
The museum galleries are open Tuesday – Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday – Sunday 10 am – 3 pm. The exhibit has been extended through January 2023.
Historic Walking Tours
One of the best ways to experience the history of Coronado is to go on a historic walking tour. We’re proud to host you on Coronado’s premier walking tour. Every tour purchase supports the Coronado Historical Association and its mission. Read more
Every Sunday at 11 am, Tuesday at 1 pm (starting January 2023) & Thursday at 1 pm
Location: Coronado Historical Association,
1100 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Admission: Adults $20 | Children (12 & under) $5
Upcoming Events

Feb 4 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Book Launch: The Other Side of the Fence
Hosted by: Coronado Historical Association

Feb 11 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Coronado’s Hidden Black History
Hosted by: Coronado Historical Association

Feb 16 | 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Wine & Lecture: WARBOATS, 55 Years of Naval Special Warfare
Hosted by: Coronado Historical Association

Apr 20 | 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Wine & Lecture: Kate O. Sessions: It All Started in Coronado
Hosted by: Coronado Historical Association

May 25 | 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Wine & Lecture: Researching your home at the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk
Hosted by: Coronado Historical Association
Visit Coronado Historical Association
Address:
1100 Orange Avenue
Coronado, CA
92118
Phone:
(619) 435-7242
Hours:
Museum and Store
Tuesday - Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Saturday - Sunday 10 am - 3 pm
Holiday Hours:
Closed for Thanksgiving & Black Friday
Shop Small Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
Closed December 24, 2022 - January 2, 2023
Research Center
Tuesday - Thursday 11 am to 3 pm
by Appointment Only
Website:
1100 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA