February 22, 1978 A devastating three-alarm fire destroyed the Aerospace Museum in Balboa Park in San Diego. TV 8 captured film of the flames engulfing the 63-year-old Electric building. It was built in 1915. Museum president Mark Starr told Janine Tartaglia it was hard to put a money value on the loss as items lost were irreplaceable, intrinsic historical items that were priceless. Close to sixty original and replica aircraft, hundreds of artifacts, dozens of rare engines, and thousands of irreplaceable books and archival material were lost forever. The total loss was estimated to be over $10 million dollars. On February 23rd, the mood was somber as Mayor Pete Wilson toured the damage. He said it needed to be started up again—it was too important a part of San Diego. He asked for witnesses to come forward and couldn’t imagine what kind of sick person takes pleasure from a destructive sick act like this. Dave Cohen filed this report. Cathy Clark focused on the history of the museum showing color file film of exhibits inside. Bill Selby looked at the future of the other buildings in the park. The Aerospace Museum moved to the Ford building in the park in 1980. Our 1963 film of opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls47vIa5lX4