The Rich History of San Diego's Hotel Del Coronado

A living legend for nearly 130 years, The Del celebrates its rich history as the proud host to celebrities, royalty and beach-loving guests for generations.

Built in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, Hotel del Coronado is an American treasure with more than a century of stories to tell. The Del’s visionary founders, Elisha Babcock, Jr., and Hampton L. Story, dreamed of building a seaside resort that would be “the talk of the Western world.” Since then, the resort has become a living legend, visited by celebrities, dignitaries and U.S. presidents. Explore the Hotel del Coronado history timeline below, or visit the resort’s Est. 1888 store for history display cases and the downstairs history hallway to view large historic photographs.