The Committee of One Hundred

The fabulous Comic-Con® Museum is opening November 26, but the building in Balboa Park needs a new, historically authentic ("bagel" or "Palisades Tan") paint job. And YOU have come to the rescue. Thanks to more than 125 donors who have contributed a total of $16,840 inGFM and direct checks to make this project possible. 

We provided the city of San Diego the paint, materials and equipment, and city workers did the rest. We did it at the San Diego Automotive Museum last year and the nearby Municipal Gym this year. Now it was Comic-Con's turn.

"We" are the Balboa Park Committee of 100 (C100), the park's oldest (1967) stakeholder. (The legal name is the Committee of 100 for the Preservation of Spanish Colonial Architecture in Balboa Park.) We champion the restoration of the park's historic buildings, grounds and public spaces.

The Comic-Con Museum is located in the park's Palisades area, site of the 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition. It looks like an Aztec palace, and that's right. Expo architect Richard Requa wanted to give visitors a lesson in New World architecture and design and took his cues from the buildings from pre-Columbian days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

C100 has created the Balboa Park Bucket of Paint Club to repaint one building after the other. All it takes is a bucket of paint to make an immediate difference!

But we couldn't do it alone. We needed your help. It's a perfect public-private partnership — and you were our partner! We're aimed for $20,000 in one month to finish the job. Comic-Con Museum sweetened the pot -- give $25 and you get a chance to win one of 25 Comic-Con Toucans by Funko. Give $50 or more, and you receive a commemorative Comic-Con pin and official tote bag. One donor gave $2,500, another, $2,000, because they believe so much in beautifying Balboa Park and restoring its historic buildings and grounds

 

 

 

Painting  began in  late-September and is all finished at the end of October.  We'll email you soon to get your contact info and mailing address so we can send you the incentive gifts.  You can also reach us at the contacts listed on our websites :

https://www.balboaparkcommitteeof100.org and https://www.comic-con.org/museum

Use the subject line, PAINT COMIC-CON. If donations exceed our need, we will retain them in our BP Bucket of Paint Club fund for the next painting project.

 

Some history: At the 1935 expo, the Comic-Con Museum was the Federal Building (in upper right of the photo) with U.S. government exhibits. It became an annex to the Muni Gym after World War II, then the Hall of Champions/Sports Museum in the 1990s.

The Comic-Con Museum is going to be the next big thing in Balboa Park, with day and night programs year-round and exhibits for the expected half-million attendees per year. We want to be ready for you, the fans, and all Balboa Park lovers! It opens. Nov. 26. 

Thanks for your support!

Roger Showley, C100 president, and Rita Vandergaw, Comic-Con Museum interim director