Chicano Park

Chicano Park is a National Historic Landmark in San Diego's Barrio Logan neighborhood, and it houses the largest collection of Chicano murals in the world. Located beneath the concrete pillars of the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, the park transforms industrial infrastructure into one of the most remarkable open-air art galleries in the United States.

Over 80 murals cover the bridge supports, retaining walls, and kiosk structures throughout the 7.4-acre park. The artwork spans five decades. Themes range from pre-Columbian Aztec and Mayan mythology to the Mexican Revolution, the farmworkers' movement, the Chicano civil rights struggle, and celebrations of community identity.

For families, the murals are visually spectacular regardless of prior knowledge. The scale alone is impressive -- some murals rise 25-30 feet up bridge pillars. Kids respond to the bold, graphic style.

The park's origin story is itself a lesson worth sharing. In 1970, residents occupied the site, formed a human chain, and began building the park themselves -- planting trees, building pathways, and painting the first murals. That history has continued for over 50 years.

The Barrio Logan neighborhood surrounding the park has undergone an arts renaissance, with galleries, studios, and creative restaurants along Logan Avenue. The annual Chicano Park Day celebration in April transforms the space with traditional Aztec dance, live music, food vendors, and lowrider car shows.