A renowned San Diego icon and National Historic Site, the Spreckels Organ Pavilion was constructed for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. This extraordinary gift was made by brothers John D. and Adolf B. Spreckels to the people of San Diego who welcomed the Organ’s first performance on December 31, 1914, with more than 30,000 people in attendance. The Spreckels Organ has since entertained and engaged millions of guests from around the world who have enjoyed Sunday afternoon and holiday concerts as well as an International Summer Organ Festival, the largest of its kind in the United States.

Today, the Spreckels Organ, with its 5098 pipes, has the distinction of being the largest open-air musical instrument in the world. In 1988, the nonprofit Spreckels Organ Society was formed “to preserve, program, and promote the Spreckels Organ as a world treasure for all people.” In accordance with the 1915 Deed of Gift, all concerts at the Pavilion are free and open to the public. The Spreckels Organ Society works cooperatively with the City of San Diego to fulfill this promise. Together they support San Diego’s internationally acclaimed Civic Organist and the Organ Curator, an expert in maintaining the Organ.

Civic Organists
1915-1932 – Dr. Humphrey J. Stewart
1933-1954 – Royal Brown
1954-1957 – Charles Shatto
1957-1978 – Douglas Duncan
1978-1984 – Jared Jacobsen
1984-2000 – Robert Plimpton
2001-2016 – Dr. Carol Williams
2018-Present – Raúl Prieto Ramírez

Curators
1914 – Installer – Edward Crome
1914-1915 – Anton Rokos
1915-1932 – Roy W. Tolchard
1932-1947 – E. A. Spencer
1947-1974 – Leonard Dowling
1974-2014 – Lyle W. Blackinton
2015-Present – Dale Sorenson

SPRECKELS OUTDOOR PIPE ORGAN

1915 Austin Opus #453

New Consoles 1935, 1981, 2010

Additions 1935, 1960, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2014, 2016, 2020

81 Ranks – 5,098 Pipes

The organ is maintained by L.W. Blackinton and Associates, Inc

Lyle Blackinton, Curator 1974 – 2014

Dale Sorenson, Curator 2015 -