The Davis-Horton House 1850 410 Island Avenue Architecture: Two-Story Wooden New England Saltbox Mortice and Tenon Construction Through rain and sleet and storms, and even through floods – yes, two of them – the Davis-Horton House, the oldest standing structure in downtown San Diego, has managed to survive. The little yellow house on the…
Landmarks
The Ghost of Christmas Past – A Victorian Christmas
No era has influenced the way we celebrate Christmas as much as the Victorian era. Before the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign in 1837, Christmas was largely unheard of. One of the most significant cultural shifts within the Victorian period was the introduction of the holiday season, which occurred as a result of the Industrial…
Landmarks
The Pacifica Hotel
All the World’s a Stage….. and More The Pacifica Hotel 551 Fourth Avenue Circa 1910 Architectural Style: Turn-of-the Century Modern Architect Unknown In 1867, Alonzo Horton sold to A.S. Seely, a mail carrier from Los Angeles, a one half interest of the original Pacifica Hotel property site , which included spaces 547-557. Mr.…
Landmarks
The I.O.O.F. Building
Very Fancy And Not Odd At All I.O.O.F. Building Independent Order of Odd Fellows 526 Market Street 1873-1882 Classical Revival Architects: Payne and Lacey What’s an odd fellow? I guess we have all known a few, but the odd fellows of the 1800s were a national fraternal…
Landmarks
The Granger Building
1904 964 5th Avenue Architectural Style: Romanesque Architect: William Quayle Once again it is summertime in America’s finest city, and many San Diegans clamor to spend time outdoors enjoying the many attractions this fair city…
Landmarks
The Callan Hotel
San Diego’s First “Zoo” 1878 Three Story Brick Structure 502 Fifth Avenue Architects: Stannard & Layman (1913): Additional Two Stories As the days get warmer and summer approaches many San Diegans begin to seek outdoor entertainment. There are the beaches, Old Town, water parks, and of course, the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The first “zookeeper”…
Landmarks
Backesto Building
Back-esto in Time The Backesto Building 1873 &1887 Architects: Burgett and Osgood Architectural Style: Classical Revival On December 23, 1867, Dr. John Pierre Backesto, bought himself a Christmas present – a large portion of Block 88 belonging to Alonzo Horton. The property was located on Fifth Avenue and H Street. (now Market St.), and…