Shelter Island, San Diego facts for kids

A postcard from the 1960s shows Shelter Island (with palm trees) reaching into San Diego Bay.

Shelter Island is a cool area in Point Loma, which is part of San Diego, California. Even though it's called an "island," it's actually connected to the mainland by a small strip of land. It started out as a sandbank in San Diego Bay that you could only see when the tide was low.

In 1934, workers used sand and dirt dug from the bay to build up the sandbank into dry land. Then, in the 1950s, it was developed with hotels, restaurants, places for boats (marinas), and public parks. The Port of San Diego owns and manages Shelter Island. They also provide all the police and other public services. Businesses on Shelter Island rent their spots from the Port. Because of a special California law about public tidelands, you can't buy property or build permanent homes there. The "island" is about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long and only a few hundred feet wide. One main street, Shelter Island Drive, runs along it and connects it to the mainland.

How Shelter Island Was Made

Shelter Island was first shown on a map as just a "mudbank." Over time, soil and sand from the San Diego River slowly built it up. During World War II, the U.S. Navy needed deeper channels in San Diego Bay. The sandbar was used to dump extra material dug from the bay, making it even bigger.

In the late 1940s, the San Diego Harbor Commission started a big digging project. They created a new entrance for boats and used the dug-up material to connect Shelter Island to Point Loma. They also raised the island higher, first 14 feet (4.3 meters) above low tide, then another 7 feet (2.1 meters) above high tide. By 1960, people were calling Shelter Island "something from nothing" and a "man-made wonderland."

All the buildings on Shelter Island are designed to look "Polynesian." This style was very popular in the 1950s when the area was first built. Many restaurants and "tiki bars" with exotic themes opened there. The famous Bali Hai restaurant opened in 1954 and still has a tiki bar and its own boat dock. The Half Moon Inn, with its Humphrey's restaurant and summer concert stage, also keeps its Polynesian look.

Fun Things to Do

The Shelter Island Marina, where many boats are docked.

Shelter Island is home to the Silvergate Yacht Club. It also creates a safe harbor for two other yacht clubs: the San Diego Yacht Club and the Southwestern Yacht Club.

Shelter Island is a popular spot for very large boats called superyachts. This is because it has one of the few marinas in San Diego Bay that is deep enough for these huge vessels. Every September, the annual YachtFest takes place at Shelter Island Marina. This event shows off superyachts and even has pretend battles between two replica 19th-century tall ships from the San Diego Maritime Museum.

From June to September, famous musicians and comedians perform at an outdoor concert area on Shelter Island. It's also a great place to watch the yearly Big Bay Boom fireworks show on the Fourth of July. In December, you can see the Parade of Lights, where boats decorated with holiday lights sail on the Bay.

Cool Art to See

Shelter Island has several interesting pieces of public art. The Tunaman's Memorial is a large bronze statue dedicated to the tuna fishermen who were once very important to the area's economy. The Yokohama Friendship Bell is a big bronze bell inside a pagoda-like building. It was a gift from the city of Yokohama, Japan, in 1958 to celebrate their friendship with San Diego.

Pacific Rim Park, at the southwest end of Shelter Island, was created by artist James Hubbell. Its main feature is a round bubbling fountain called Pearl of the Pacific. The fountain is surrounded by a colorful mosaic wall and a dramatic arch. It's a popular spot for outdoor weddings.