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San Diego California Holiday Ornament - California Tower

San Diego California Holiday Ornament - California Tower

Regular price $28.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $28.00 USD
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California Tower. A tower built for a party. The party ran two years, ended in 1917, and the tower is still standing a century later.

The California Tower went up for the Panama-California Exposition of 1915, San Diego's bid for attention when the Panama Canal opened and the world's shipping rearranged itself. The architect Bertram Goodhue designed it in Spanish Colonial Revival, and the style was so persuasive that it set the architectural tone for Southern California for decades afterward. Exposition buildings are meant to be temporary. San Diego kept these - they became Balboa Park, and the tower became the museum's front door and the city's signature.

Fairs are built to be torn down, and nearly all of them are. What San Diego did instead was treat a temporary fantasy as permanent civic property, and in doing so gave itself the most beautiful park in the American West.

Printed on a three-inch faceted crystal glass round, white-backed so the ornate detail stays crisp and the tiled dome's blue and gold catch tree light. The faceted edge throws light from every angle. Arrives boxed - white or gold gift box, your choice at checkout.

For the park regular, the museum member, the one who takes every visitor across the Cabrillo Bridge first. Merlin Classics profits support hunger relief.

3-inch (76 mm) round crystal glass ornament · faceted gem-cut edge · white-backed print for crisp contrast · red ribbon hanger · your choice of white or gold gift box, included · free U.S. shipping.

 

More San Diego CA Items

Below are excerpts from our San Diego history page. The San Diego town logo and the full town story are available through the collection link above.

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Today San Diego is where California began, on a bay that has been America's harbor since 1769. Its story runs from the Kumeyaay homeland and Cabrillo's landing, through the first mission and the New Town on the water, to the Exposition's towers and the Navy fleet that still calls the harbor home. Our San Diego designs gather that identity into wearable form — the bear and star, the bay, and the city that never quite turns the lights off. San Diego, California: where the West Coast story started, on a working harbor.

Today San Diego trades on its climate as much as its history — 'America's Finest City,' roughly seventy degrees the year round, with the Pacific at the doorstep. Visitors and locals split their days between Balboa Park's museums and gardens, the coves and cliffs of La Jolla — where bright-orange garibaldi, California's state marine fish, cruise the tide pools and the underwater park — the lighthouse of Point Loma, and the long beaches of Coronado, Mission Beach, and Ocean Beach. The city eats from its own taco shops: fish tacos, carne asada fries, and the california burrito, invented right here. The bay glitters, the sun drops behind Point Loma, and the same harbor that started the whole story keeps right on working into the evening.

Why People Visit San Diego

San Diego rewards visitors with a rare mix: deep early-California history, a working Navy harbor, great parks, and miles of Pacific coast under a famously mild sky. People come for Balboa Park and the bay, the beaches and Point Loma sunsets, and the story of the city where California began — historic, easygoing, unmistakably Californian.

San Diego California Merlin Classics retro vintage logo featuring the California bear and star and 1850

Wear Local. Feed Local. Stay Classic.

Product FAQs

How does your sizing work?

Because items are made to order, we can’t accept returns for sizing or color choices. We do accept returns for defects, misprints, or shipping damage. Please review the detailed photos and descriptions before purchasing. Women’s fitted tees run small; if you prefer a looser fit, consider sizing up.

How do I send gifts?

All items ship without prices and include a simple packing slip for easy gifting. Enter the recipient’s shipping address and your billing address at checkout. Use your contact info to receive tracking updates. Orders typically arrive within 6–11 business days—please allow extra time for time-sensitive gifts.

How do I care for my item?

For apparel: wash cold, inside-out, with like colors; avoid bleach and high heat; tumble dry low or hang dry. For embroidery, iron inside-out to protect the stitching. See specific care instructions in product descriptions and also follow general best practices in caring for your items for long term enjoyment.

How are items made and when will they arrive?

We make each item on demand using premium blanks, embroidery, and soft-hand prints. Production usually takes 2–5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays). You’ll receive tracking once shipped. We currently ship to U.S. addresses via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Most orders arrive within 6-12 business days.

What’s the return/exchange policy?

We accept returns for defects, misprints, or damage on arrival. Report issues within 30 days with photos and your order number, and we’ll replace or refund. Size or color changes aren’t supported after purchase, so please consult size charts before ordering if you are at all unsure.

Who are we?

Merlin Classics is a volunteer-run, AI-assisted apparel project celebrating timeless local style. Every item is made to order, and profits (revenue minus external product/marketing cost) support hunger-relief programs in the communities our collections spotlight. Classic looks, real local impact—every purchase helps.