Great White Fleet Visit Provided Lasting Legacy for San Diego

摘要

Early plans for the voyage of the U.S. Navy's Great White Fleet did not call for a visit to San Diego — much to the dismay of the city's Chamber of Commerce. To convince the fleet to alter its itinerary, the Chamber established a Fleet Celebration Committee and appointed an insurance agent, William Kettner, as its head. Chartering a steamer, Kettner led a small delegation, which included the mayor and the San Diego harbor pilot, down the Baja coast to meet Adm. Robley D. Evans, who was embarked on the battleship Connecticut that was anchored with the fleet at Magdalena Bay. Much to Kettner's delight, Evans agreed to call on San Diego with a caveat that his battleships would anchor in the ocean off Coronado.