Entry No. 18 — the San Diego file — filed under: repurposed water tank

Centro Cultural de la Raza

A circular 1914 water tank that sat abandoned until Chicano artists occupied it in 1971, painted the interior with murals like 'La Dualidad' and ringed the exterior with works by Mario Aguilar, David Avalos, and Neto del Sol — the drum-shaped shell now holds a 150-seat performance hall and gallery.

The move: Walk the mural-ringed exterior at golden hour, then check the calendar for a Ballet Folklórico performance or the Tianguis de la Raza market inside the old tank's round gallery.

• 📍 Balboa Park
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 2004 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · kpbs.org

last checked: 2026-07-19