San Diego History Talk: Bate's Folly and other White Elephants: The development of Shelter and Harbor Islands, 10th Avenue Marine Terminal, and San Diego Unified Port District

John Bate was San Diego's second port director, and held public vision clearer than most city officials in the 1940s through 1960s. Amidst ridicule and doubt, Bate's concern and creative reverie for San Diego Bay gave us two island playgrounds, a hefty-sized marine terminal, and an organization to direct activities along some 27 miles of waterfront. 

 

Author Bio:

Karen Scanlon is a freelance writer, educator, and historian who writes extensively on the maritime history of San Diego. In other directions are her published works in children's curriculum, and stories about people you'd want to know. Karen and twin sister Kim volunteer at Cabrillo National Monument tending the lens and lantern of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. The two co-authored the book, Lighthouses of San Diego. Karen is the proud recipient of The Martha Washington Medal awarded by Sons of the American Revolution for her work on the 1905 naval disaster aboard USS Bennington in San Diego Harbor.