History Talks! is a monthly lecture series presented by the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House. Each month a local historian or specialist delve into topics related to San Diego and the Davis-Horton House to bring a unique glimpse into the history of our city. Come hear history come alive!

From Skid Row to the Heart of San Diego: The Transformation of the Gaslamp Quarter

Wayne Donaldson

2016

Alonzo Horton and the Founding of New Town

Richard Crawford, Head Librarian of Special Collections at the San Diego Central Library

July 12, 2017

Alonzo Horton: Spouses and Houses

Sandee Wilhoit, GQHF Historian

August 16, 2017

Medical Care in Early San Diego

Dr. Catalina Preskill, Executive Director GQHF

September 13, 2017

The Spy in the Attic 

Sandee Wilhoit, GQHF Historian and Lead Tour Guide 

October 18, 2017

Saving the Horton Grand from Destruction 

Dan Pearson, Developer of the Horton Grand

January, 10, 2018

Kick Starting the Redevelopment of the Gaslamp Quarter 

Maire Burke Lia, Land Use Attorney

February 7, 2018

Gentlewomen of the Gaslamp Quarter

Sandee Wilhoit, GQHF Historian

Catalina Preskill

March 14, 2018

Gals of the Gaslamp

Imozelle and Jim McVeigh, GQHF Tour Guides

April 11, 2018

Celebrating Bum

Dan Haslam, GQHF Board Member and Walkabout International Tour Guide

May 16, 2018

The Gaslamp 1985-2018: How it Happened

Bill Keller, GQHF Board Member and Le Travel Store Owner

June 13, 2018

The Gaslamp Quarter: It Wasn’t Always This Way

Michael Stepner, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the New School of Architecture and Design

August 8, 2018

San Diego’s Palace of the Arts: The Magnificent Villa Montezuma 

Louise Torio, Chair of the Friends of the VIlla Montezuma Museum

September 12, 2018

Macabre Victorians: Funerals, Fancies, and Fetishes 

Sandee WIlhoit, GQHF Historian and Lead Tour Guide

Jamie Laird, GQHF Visitor Services Coordinator 

October 10, 2018 

Talk about Drama: Stories behind the Curtain at the Horton Grand Theatre

Kit Goldman, Founder of the Horton Grand Theatre

November 4, 2018

 

Balboa Park’s Two Great Expositions

Mike Kelly, President of the Committee of One Hundred.

January 9, 2019

Romantic Victorians: Dating, Marriage, and Love 

Sandee Wilhoit, GQHF Historian and Lead Tour Guide 

Jamie Laird, GQHF Visitor Services Coordinator 

February 13, 2019

Patrolling the Stingaree

Rick Carlson and Steve Willard, The San Diego Police Historical Association 

March 13, 2019

Street Scene: The Music Festival that Transformed the Gaslamp Quarter 

Rob Hagey, Founder of Street Scene

Jimmy Parker, Producer of Street Scene

Michael Trimble, Executive Director of the Gaslamp Quarter Association 

May 8, 2019

Early Baseball in San Diego 

Bill Swank, Baseball Historian 

June 19, 2019 

Roger Showley’s San Diego Memories 1940-1960

Roger Showley, Former Union Tribune Reporter and Author

February 19, 2020 

The Kumeyaay-Diegueño People

Laurie Egan-Hedley, Barona Museum Director

March 11, 2020

Allensworth State Historic Park 

Sasha Biscoe, President, Friends of Allensworth  

October 15, 2020

 

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens

Kathi Koehler, Director of Education and Volunteer Services

Lou Leto, Docent 

October 29, 2020

Columbia State Historic Park 

Randie and Amber, California State Parks 

November 18, 2020

 

John D. Spreckels 

Dr. Sandra Bonura, Author 

December 5, 2020

 

People on the Plaques – Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial

Charlotte Perry, GQHF Volunteer

November 10, 2021

 

The Portuguese in San Diego

Evelyn Madruga-Barandiaran, Portuguese Historical Center Board Secretary

February 16, 2022

San Diego’s Rich Surfing History

Jim Kempton, President of the California Surf Museum

May 18, 2022