The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association continues to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the San Diego and Arizona Railway with this exclusive event. Held in benefit of PSRMA, the 2019 Gala Dinner pays tribute to the accomplishments of John D. Spreckels and the developments around the railroad over the last 100 years. Highlights of this event include a recreation of the 1919 menu from the original Gala Dinner hosted by Spreckels in celebration of the completion of the railroad, live entertainment, contemporary and historic presentations, and more. You will not want to miss it.
Master of Ceremonies will be Tom Irwin, San Diego native and radio broadcasting legion known as Shotgun Tom Kelly. Irwin also is an enthusiastic train aficionado. Nearly every Wednesday, Irwin can be found running his model trains on the tracks at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in San Diego’s Balboa Park. Our guest speaker will be Sandee Bonura, author of a new biography on John D. Spreckels to be released in early 2020. Bonura spent years tracking the Spreckels descendants and reuniting them in the City of Coronado. Her research has lead to many interesting never-before-heard stories of Spreckels’ life – some of which will be shared with us at the Gala.
On display at the Gala Dinner will be the authentic golden spike, the original, gold-plated spike that was driven 100 years ago by Spreckels to complete the railroad. In addition, actors dressed in period clothing will pose as Spreckels and other dignitaries and civic leaders from 1919.
The Gala Dinner also will include comments from PSRMA leadership, elected officials, government officials from Baja California, contemporary railroad executives and Spreckels family members.
Doors open at 6pm on November 1, 2019 at the beautiful John D. Spreckels Center located at 1019 Seventh Street, Coronado, CA 92118. Advanced reservations are required. There will be no sales at the door of the event. Tickets are $100 per person which includes entrance to the event, dinner, one limited-edition commemorative champagne flute, and other keepsake favors.. Reserve your tickets today by clicking here. Additional questions may be directed to info@psrm.org.
Thank you for your continued support of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration.