The Journal of San Diego History
SAN DIEGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY
Summer 1985, Volume 31, Number 3
Thomas Scharf, Managing Editor
Hord Exhibit ~ Public Works ~ Complete works ~ Chronology
Many of Hord’s sculptures are readily accessible for public viewing in and around San Diego. Most widely recognized, at the west entrance to the San Diego County Administration Building, is the towering 16-ton “Guardian of the Waters”. At 23 feet, it is his largest sculpture in the U.S. A replica was presented in 1960 to Yokohama, Japan, San Diego’s sister city.
Hord’s “Woman of Tehuantepec” is another popular San Diego treasure, recently restored along with the House of Hospitality in Balboa Park, where she presides over the courtyard fountain. Doors may be locked during evening hours.
Hord’s “Aztec”, nicknamed “Montezuma” by San Diego State University students, is the origin of SDSU’s mascot. Take College Ave. south from I-8 and proceed up the hill to campus. The sculpture has been moved to the Prospective Student Center, inside the glass pyramid-like entrance of the building. If you have some time for a walk while at SDSU, head north through the mission-style building and visit Hord’s small bronze relief of former SDSU President Dr. Edward Hardy on the Hardy Memorial Tower at the School of Public Health.
Two architectural “Literature” panels flank the entrance to the San Diego Public Library at 820 E Street downtown. A friend of the San Diego central library, Hord bequeathed to the library his lifelong collection of books and several sculptures. You can see these two panels from the street, but the library also has Hord’s “West Wind” on exhibit in the Wangenheim Room on the second floor. Check special hours for the Wangenheim room.
Hord’s sculpture “Morning” is at Marina Park adjacent to Seaport Village, near downtown. Take Pacific Highway or Kettner downtown, just south of Harbor Drive.
Across the Coronado Bridge, near downtown Coronado, is the Coronado Public Library at 640 Orange Ave. Plan your visit during library hours, as you must go inside to see Hord’s Mourning Woman.
A short walk from the Coronado Public Library, on 7th just north of Orange, Coronado High School hosts The Legend of California, seven architectural panels which depict the mythical Amazonian Queen Calafia, after whom California was named, and the various ethnic groups that have made up the population of the state.
Hord’s incised concrete bas relief panels adorn the Kit Carson Elementary School, located in the Linda Vista area of San Diego at 6905 Kramer St., San Diego, CA 92111. Take Linda Vista Road to Kramer or, from Friars Road, take Ulric North to David St, turn left onto David and continue on to Kramer.
“Spring Stirring” overlooks the Pacific from the University of California’s Scripps Institute of Oceanography. A bit difficult to find, it is well worth seeking out. Take La Jolla Shores to Biological Grade. This road meets La Jolla Shores twice. It is easier to take the upper road, through a parking lot, to the Cecil and Ida Green Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics. On the ocean side, park in the parking lot for the Munk Laboratory and walk toward the ocean. The black diorite sculpture is on the north side of the Munk Laboratory.
| San Diego County Administration Building |
Guardian of Water c.1937–39 | Granite |
| House of Hospitality Balboa Park, San Diego |
Woman of Tehuantepec 1935 | Indiana limestone |
| San Diego State University |
Aztec c.1936-1937 |
Black Diorite |
| San Diego State University |
Dr. Edward Hardy Plaque 1935 | Bronze |
| San Diego Public Library |
Architectural Panels 1953 | Cast Stone |
| San Diego Embarcadero Marina Park/Seaport Village | Morning 1951-1956 | Black Diorite |
| Coronado High School Library |
Legend of California c.1939 | Indiana limestone relief |
| Coronado Public Library |
Mourning Woman 1959 | Granite |
| Kit Carson Elementary School, San Diego |
Architectural Panels 1942 panel 1 panel 2 |
Incised concrete |
| Scripps Institute of Oceanography UCSD |
Spring Stirring 1947-1948 | Black diorite |
These beautiful works are all in the San Diego area and accessible to the public.
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