Coronado Ferries Carry Over 2 Million Passengers in a Single Year
The ferry fleet reaches peak transit traffic during the California Pacific International Exposition.
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Archival Chronicle & Historical Significance
Historical Chronicle
The historic passenger and auto ferry Cabrillo navigating San Diego Bay in the peak commuter era when ferries carried over 2 million passengers annually.
During the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park, the San Diego-Coronado ferry system experienced the most extraordinary traffic surge in its history. Operating around the clock with departures every ten to fifteen minutes from each slip, the fleet of five massive double-ended ferries transported an astounding 2,100,000 passengers and over 1,200,000 automobiles across San Diego Bay in a single year.
Flagship vessels, including the paddlewheeler Silver Gate and the steel-hulled beauties San Diego, Coronado, and Silver Strand, carried an endless parade of exposition visitors, Hollywood celebrities, naval personnel, and daily commuters. Deck crews worked tirelessly to load and unload double lines of automobiles in minutes, maintaining an impeccable safety record despite fog and heavy harbor traffic.
The 1935 milestone demonstrated the indispensable role of the ferry fleet as the commercial and social lifeline of the Crown City. For millions of travelers during the Great Depression, the brisk, scenic seven-minute bay crossing was an unforgettable ritual of California travel.
Other Key Milestones in this Era
Glenn Curtiss & Birthplace of Naval Aviation
Aviation pioneer Glenn H. Curtiss executes the first successful seaplane flight in North Island waters, founding naval aviation.
Lt. Theodore G. Ellyson Becomes Naval Aviator No. 1
Trained by Glenn Curtiss at North Island, Lt. Ellyson receives the first naval aviator wings in history.
Commissioning of Naval Air Station North Island
The U.S. Navy officially commissions NAS North Island as America enters World War I.
Primary Archival Sources & Official Portals
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