Casa de Balboa

Casa de Balboa. . The Commerce and Industries Building from the Panama-California Exposition stood at this location for more than 60 years. In 1915 it displayed commercial products and an operational federal post office. A U.S. Mint machine produced souvenir coins. It became the Canadian Building for the extended 1916 Exposition, featuring a popular display of live beavers building dams., The Museum of Natural History operated in the building before it was designated as the Palace of Better Housing during the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. Commercial home improvement products and exhibits by the Federal Housing Administration filled the building. An outdoor Model Town was built, with miniature houses designed by leading California architects., The U.S. Navy used the building during both World Wars, first as barracks, then a hospital. Later the space was rented for conventions and trade shows and was known as the Electric Building. It became the San Diego Aerospace Museum in 1965. A 1978 fire destroyed the building and its collections., Preservationists rallied to rebuild the structure in 1981-82, renaming it Casa de Balboa. The footprint and interior space were reconfigured, but the exterior of the 1915 building as designed by Frank P. Allen, Jr. (1881-1943) was faithfully recreated. Atop the structure, inspired by an 18th century manor house in Queretaro, Mexico, Allen added a deep eave supported by nude female figures. The eaves were originally painted in rich shades of blue, red, green, and gold.