"When entering the California Building at Balboa Park, one was immediately struck by the stunning tilework on the wainscot. There was no historic precedent for this bombardment of bright color.” - Joseph Taylor, Tile Heritage Foundation
OF ALL THE SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVAL STRUCTURES that architect Bertram G. Goodhue and others created for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, the California Building and Tower drew the most attention. Befitting its state association, massive size, and prominent location, the complex is lavishly adorned with blue, green, black, and yellow tiles from National City's renowned California China Products Co.
 CCPCo tile played a pivotal role in transforming Southern California’s architectural panorama. Its debut aligned with the rise of the Spanish Colonial Revival movement, which the Panama-California Exposition sparked, leaving an indelible imprint on the region’s tile heritage. Despite its mere six-year existence, CCPCo emerged as one of California’s most inventive tile manufacturers. Its matte-finish glazed tiles, characterized by vibrant, deep hues, boasted durability and proved highly practical for outdoor applications. Widely acclaimed and used, these tiles established a benchmark for subsequent generations of tile makers.
The California Building’s 180-foot-tall, tile-domed tower is colorfully visible for miles and the adjacent museum’s massive 60-foot-high dome gleams with brilliant compass rose designs. The complex quickly became one of the most admired and photographed buildings in the park in 1915 and remains so today.
The base of the California Building helps enclose the California Quadrangle, a protected gathering space and a thoroughfare for pedestrians and vehicles along the Prado. Note the historic tile embellishing the east side of the quadrangle's well-used arch that welcomes visitors and leads into the rest of Balboa Park.
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