New Year’s resolutions are not a modern concept. Indeed, the Victorians and Edwardians had definite ideas about getting a fresh start during the impending new year. Surprisingly, some of their notions closely mirrored 21st century desires to reform and be one’s best self. Not surprisingly, a great deal of skepticism abounded about the general ability […]
By 1881, 800 Chinese were living in San Diego, most of them men who had come to work on the railroad at the request of Ah Quin. As they were far from home, marginalized and relatively poor, they needed resources by which they could have their basic needs met and also find individuals for friendship […]
Tis’ the season again, and time to select the perfect Christmas gift for your special someone or child. Will it be diamonds, a luxury car, a fully furnished Barbie dollhouse? What will be your ultimate luxurious gift? For wealthy Victorians this question was a no-brainer. They would shop for the most expensive and beautiful porcelain […]
It is important to include some of the historic sites that serve as a reminder of the important contributions in commerce, culture and architecture made by the Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and Hawaiian communities.
Visit the Gaslamp Museum for a dose of holiday cheer! Explore Victorian Christmas Traditions on display throughout the rooms.
Saturday, December 16th, 2023 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm Please join us in welcoming the holidays with free tours of the Davis-Horton House. Whether you are seeing the house for the first time or hundredth, our beautiful holiday decorations are sure to get you in a festive spirit. Our Docent team will be dressed in […]
Most of us simply can’t get going without our morning (and afternoon) dose of caffeine to power us through the day. One might think this is a modern trend brought about by the influx of coffee houses during the 80s and 90s, but our Victorian forefathers were way ahead of us. And – they weren’t […]
San Diego Lumber Company Building 1926 170 Sixth Avenue Architect: Unknown Architectural Style: Commercial/Spanish Revival The San Diego Lumber Company had a somewhat tumultuous beginning. On July 19,1872, Alonzo Horton transferred the title of the site to G.W.B. McDonald and W.B. Holcomb, who were previous owners of a lumber company known as McDonald and Company. […]
Pierce-Morse Building(1887) Sixth Avenue & F Street Architects: Comstock and Trotsche Architectural Style: Italianate / Commercial John Keats once said that “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” That might be said of the Pierce-Morse Building, an important part of the San Diego skyline of the late 1800s and the first part of the […]
William Heath Davis, Sr. came from a prominent New England family. His maternal grandfather, General William Heath, was the last surviving major general from the American Revolution. This is one reason that the name “Heath” figures prominently in descendant’s names, such as William Heath Davis, Jr. His paternal grandfather, Robert Davis, participated in the Boston […]