One local paper enthused, in 1888, of the new Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego: “The story of Aladdin and his wonderful palace, built in a single night, comes closer to being realized into actual fact upon this Coronado beach than possibly any other place on earth known to man.” A magic lamp for so long and to so many, the 679-room Hotel Del — the second largest wooden structure in the United States and a Queen-Anne-style Victorian masterpiece — has welcomed L. Frank Baum, Wizard of Oz author, Charles Lindbergh, Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Mae West, Clark Gable, Judy Garland and Bogie and Bacall, among others. And, in 1958, Billy Wilder chose the Del to film what some consider the greatest comedy movie ever: Some Like it Hot with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemon and Marilyn Monroe. Memories are made at the Del for sure, but so many are here waiting when you arrive.
