Ocean Beach Tutors Come To You

As its name indicates, Ocean Beach is on the Pacific Ocean in the city of San Diego just across Mission Bay from Sea World. Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first European to see what is now Ocean Beach when he discovered San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542. Cabrillo had been searching for the legendary Strait of Anian, a supposed water route from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, when he spotted the bay, thinking it may be the elusive waterway. His hopes, of course, were dashed as explorers were never able to find a water path across the continent. It would be over 200 years until the Spanish returned to San Diego when Juan Gaspar de Portolá and Franciscan Father Junipero Serra established Mission San Diego de Alcalá. The mission, about 10 miles from Ocean Beach, bears the name of the Franciscan missionary St. Didacus (Diego), who lived during the 15th century. Didacus gained canonization in 1588. The saint was supposedly a great healer, even after he went to the grave. When Spanish King Henry of Castile fell from his horse badly injuring his arm, he called for the body of Didacus to be brought to him. After kissing the corpse, the king was miraculously cured.

Because of the preponderance of seafood in the area, Ocean Beach was originally named Mussel Beach. Real estate investor and a future mayor of San Diego, William “Billy” Carlson bought the land and changed the name when a development boom hit San Diego in 1887. Over the next few years, Carlson and his partner Frank Higgins laid out streets, built a Victorian-style hotel called The Cliffs, and began selling lots. After serving as San Diego mayor for three years, Carlson went on to become involved in fraudulent land deals in Los Angeles, Alaska and Cuba. Carlson served three years in federal prison. He died in Los Angeles in 1937. Today, Ocean Beach is a bustling neighborhood with mostly small family owned businesses and hotels. The area also has several antique stores and is home to the former Strand Theater which was built in 1925 and is designated as a San Diego historical building.

Opened in 1966, the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier is one of the most visited landmarks in San Diego County. Originally intended as a place for fishing, the 1,700-foot pier has over 500,000 visitors every year. The pier was first dedicated by then Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, father of current California Governor Jerry Brown. A story claims that Brown fished for about five minutes from the pier but caught nothing. He also lost his re-election bid in November, 1966 to Ronald Reagan. Some longtime “OBceans” (a nickname for residents) claim Brown should have stayed longer and caught at least one fish.

Ocean Beach features a variety of activities during the year. The Farmer’s Market on Newport Avenue offers fresh produce from local farmers, ready to eat meals, unique arts and crafts and live entertainment. Ocean Beach celebrates Oktoberfest with music, costume contests and the annual OB Brät Trot, 2K and 5K beach runs. In June, the community comes alive for the annual OB Street Fair and Chili-Cook-Off. More than 70,000 visitors invade Ocean Beach for a day of food, beachfront entertainment and shopping.