July 4th Weekend in Balboa Park
We are planning for a big July 4th weekend celebration in Balboa Park. We have been invited to attend the Independence Day Celebration hosted by the House of the USA and the House of Spain. We plan on having a display and members at both houses for Saturday, Sunday and possibly Monday.
Joining in this weekend event will be the House of France, House of Germany, House of Poland, House of Spain and this year the House of Ireland, House of Scotland, and House of England.
If you would like to support our July 4th activities in Balboa Park please let us know. While we have designated morning and afternoon periods you are welcome at any time (which includes setup and teardown time).
Click here to access the online signup form
You can designate either House or if you are flexible you can designate “Either House”. You may contact the organizer for each display in lieu of using this form.
Philip Hinshaw at philiphinshaw@cox.net for the House of Spain.
Duncan Campbell at colorguard@sarsandiego.org for the House of USA.
House of Spain
In 1776, the King of Spain commenced secretly supporting the American colonies in their War of Independence. In 1779, the King of Spain declared war on England and ordered Spanish forces throughout North America to engage the British wherever possible. In 1780, the King requested the Spanish soldiers (soldados) in the presidios to contribute two pesos, and the Native Americans in the presidios to contribute one peso, to the Spanish war effort. In 2005, CASSAR and SDSAR dedicated a plaque in Presidio Park commemorating the contribution of the San Diego Presidio. The House of Spain (HOS) joined SDSAR in the plaque dedication ceremony.
In 2013, the House of Spain in San Diego (HOS) invited the San Diego Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SDSAR) to join them in their annual July 4th celebration. All of the Balboa Park International Cottages are open every Saturday and Sunday of the year. The HOS chose to celebrate July 4th on the weekend nearest the 4th, and to also open the casita on the 4th whenever it occurs on a weekday.
House of USA
Inki Welch, President of the House of USA, shared with us; “We received so much positive feedback from the public about our American Revolutionary War Heroes.” The House of Scotland already volunteered to feature at least a couple of heroes including John Paul Jones, a naval commander.
In 2021, the House of USA had a historic Independence Day celebration since the inception of the House of USA whereby the House of France, House of Germany, House of Poland, and House of Spain graciously cooperated with the House of USA and featured the following American Revolutionary War Heroes in their respective cottages:
- Bernardo de Galvez – Spain
- Casimir Pulaski (Father of American Cavalry) & Tadeusz Kosciuszko – Poland
- The Marquis de Lafayette – France
- Baron von Steuben & Baron Johann de Kalb – Germany
Please join our efforts to make the 2022 Independence Celebration a more colorful and a more rounded educational program on U.S. History and promote the San Diego Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution to the general public.
The large parking lot behind Spreckels Organ Pavilion is probably the best parking option.
Directions and Park Map: https://www.balboapark.org/map
