A Brief History of Coronado Island

Elisha S. Babcock Jr., Hampton Story, and Jacob Gruendike purchased the Coronado peninsula in 1885 for a whopping $110,000. Not much by today’s real estate standards, but it was considerably more than the $1000 paid by an American trading ship captain to Don Carrillo to purchase the original Mexican land grant. By the time Babcock and company acquired the property, it had changed hands many times, yet still remained largely undeveloped.

After completing the purchase, the group formed the Coronado Beach Company to sell residential lots and develop the beachfront along what is now Ocean Boulevard. There was one problem – how to get people and supplies to the island. Babcock and Story immediately created the San Diego and Coronado Ferry Company, and the Coronado Railroad Company followed soon after in 1886.

The Rock Island Gallery Name

The Coronado Railroad Company was instrumental in supporting the Coronado Beach development plan, which included the Hotel Del Coronado, Tent City, and 350 home sites. The original route, called the Coronado Belt Line, began at 5th and L Streets in San Diego, moved through National City and Chula Vista and continued around the south end of the bay, and up the Silver Strand to Coronado.

In the book, Coronado the Enchanted Isle, Katherine Eitzen Carlin and Ray Brandes profile the early development of our beautiful island. Included among the collection of old photographs is a picture of a private railcar from the Rock Island Line, c. 1889, parked in front of the Hotel Del Coronado.

Although the Rock Island Railroad did not extend west of Colorado, their spacious coaches were often purchased by private companies, or wealthy individuals who liked to travel in style. Legend has it, the private coach in the old photograph was owned by an eccentric art collector who took his treasured paintings and sculptures with him, rather than leave so much beauty locked up in an empty house. Upon reaching Coronado, he shared his collection with precious few, and those who entered the car, never spoke about what they viewed.

The old Rock Island coach left Coronado after the Hotel Del was completed, and the mysterious art collection disappeared along with its curator. Now, 116 years later, another art collection has arrived in Coronado. But, unlike its namesake, the Rock Island Gallery is here to stay.

Our Mission

Our family loves to travel, and in each destination we seek out a special piece of art created by a local artist. The art absorbs our experiences and becomes a timeless connection to the people and places we visit. It is our hope that Rock Island Gallery becomes a place for you to make a special connection to Coronado. We invite you to explore the artists listed on the left side of this page. Simply click on a name to view the artist's collection. The images will give you an idea of subject matter and style, but of course, a digital picture pales in comparison to the actual work. We invite you to visit the gallery in person, and of course, feel free to call us directly at (619) 435-0212 if you have any questions. We look forward to welcoming you to Rock Island Gallery.