Gaslamp Quarter/Seaport Village
Historic buildings along 5th & 6th Avenue, Seaport Village, Horton Plaza
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Duration:
3 hours Distance: Horton Plaza and Gaslamp Quarter: 2 miles Seaport Village, Embarcadero Marina Park, Marina Parkway, back to Gaslamp Quarter: + 3 miles Easy to add to all routes if you come here at night
Getting there From Del Mar: Use Interstate 5 South towards San Diego Downtown. Exit at Front Street/Civic Center and look for parking starting at Horton Plaza. Please note that Horton Plaza offers 3 hrs free parking without any purchase (validation at the machine is necessary). |
From Mission Bay: From Mission Bay Drive go to I-8 East and change onto I-5 South. Exit at Front Street/Civic Center and look for parking starting at Horton Plaza. Please note that Horton Plaza offers 3 hrs free parking.
From Downtown: First walk to the Seaport Village and do the walk in the opposite direction to finally end at the corner of 5th Ave archway and L Street. From Point Loma: Take Rosecrans Street North and turn right into Harbor Drive. Make a left into 1st or 5th Avenue. From Coronado Island: Cross Coronado Island Bridge and exit at National Avenue. Turn right at National Avenue, make a left at Caesar Chavez Parkway and then a right into Harbor Drive. Turn right into 5th or 1st Avenue. |
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1st stop: Gaslamp Quarter - http://www.gaslamp.org With the help of Alonzo Horton, an American real estate developer the foundation for Downtown San Diego and the Gaslamp Quarter was laid in 1867. Although there were other settlers building homes in this area before, Horton was the one, who finally got the ball rolling by constructing a wharf at the southern end of 5th Avenue. When he moved from Old Town to the waterfront several residents followed and started to commercialize the area. With its success and growth the booming New Town attracted dubios businesses in the 1880s and the first bordellos and gambling halls opened in its vicinity. With the opening of the adult businesses the serious businesses moved further north towards Market Street and the southern part of New Town turned into a red light district called Stingaree. In 1912 the police shut down the Stingaree after San Diego’s residents plead against it. |
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In the 1970s the former Stingaree and now called Gaslamp Quarter still was a hub for adult businesses. However, the City Council agreed to a petiton to aid the quarter for redevelopment and set up design guidelines for restoration and new constructions. By today the quarter was successfully redeveloped and the adult businesses gave way to boutiques, restaurants, bars, hotels, and galleries.
The best way to explore the Gaslamp Quarter is by feet. If you parked at Horton Plaza make sure you are validating your ticket at one of the terminals before you are leaving for the quarter.
The best way to explore the Gaslamp Quarter is by feet. If you parked at Horton Plaza make sure you are validating your ticket at one of the terminals before you are leaving for the quarter.
A walk through the Gaslamp Quarter:
Coming from the Horton Plaza exit the Plaza at 4th Avenue and continue to to 5th Avenue over E or F Street.
5th Avenue was the former Main Street in ‘New Town’ and until today many beautiful facades that were restorated in the 80’s and 90’s are framing the avenue. If you are interested in the buildings past, here is a shortlist of the oldest or most beautiful structures:
Buildings between E and Market Street:
840 5th Avenue: The house was built in 1910 and was a dance hall and Woolworth branch before the San Diego Hardware store moved in. The rounded storefront windows were trademarks of all Woolworth stores.
832 5th Avenue: Ingersoll Tuton Buildung was built in 1894 and was the most expensive building in New Town.
835-837 5th Avenue at the opposite of San Diego Hardware is the Louis Bank of Commerce. It was built in 1888 as first granite building in San Diego. It first housed a bank and later the Golden Poppy Hotel, a brothel that stayed in business until 1946.
825 5th Avenue at the opposite of the Ingersoll is the Nesmith-Greeley Buidling. The former lodging home was built in 1888 and nowadays the upper floors are rented as apartments.
432 F Street at the corner of 5th and F Street: The Keating Building was built in 1890 as an office building from the architects of Hotel Del Coronado.
770 5th Avenue: The Spencer Odgen Building was built in 1874 and is the oldest structure in the Gaslamp Quarter. The same family that constructed the building still owns it.
722 – 728 5th Avenue: The Llewelyn Building was built in 1887 as a family residence and shoe store and was later used as a hotel. This house is a Victorian Era landmark in San Diego.
5th Avenue and G Street, NW corner: The Cole Block Building is a typical commercial building from the era and was built in 1890.
5th Avenue and G Street, SW corner: This is the old city hall, which was built in 1874 in a Florentine-Italianate style. It was originally constructed for a bank before the city purchased the building in 1891. After being covered with stucco in the 1950’s the buildings real beauty was revealed in the 1980’s when the restoration started.
631 5th Avenue: The Yuma Building was built in 1888 and was one of the first brick structures in New Town. Until 1915 this building was used as a brothel.
Approaching Market Street you will cross a pedestrian scramble. At this corner you will see new gas lamps that have been installed to remind of the gas lamp usage in the 19th and 20th century in San Diego. At the end of 5th Avenue follows the Gaslamp Quarter Archway. It was erected in 1988 to underline the city’s commitment to redevelop the historic area.
From the archway continue to the Seaport Village first, before you head back to the Gaslamp Quarter and along 6th Avenue. If you are not interested in the village and the San Diego Marina just shorten the walk by turning left into L Street and right into 6th Ave.
2nd stop: Seaport Village - http://www.seaportvillage.com/
At the end of 5th Avenue turn right and walk along the path parallel to Martin-Luther-King Promenade and Harbor Drive to the basin at 1st Ave and Front Street.
The San Diego Convention Center is to your left. Its construction was completed in 1989 and the first expansion took place in 2001 with more to come. At the moment the center holds over 615,000 square feet (more than 57.000 qm2).
Cross the street at the basin. You either can continue to the marina by walking through the Mariott or you are passing the hotel to the right and use the parking lot as a cut through. At the marina make a right to enter the Seaport Village.
I have to admit the village that was completed in 1980 is very touristy but the boardwalk offers a scenic view over the bay and towards Coronado Island. The village consists of souvenir, clothing and gift shops, and restaurants and has many street performers. The setting is based on its last century appearance with cobblestones, ponds and basins. The following link from the Seaports webpage will help you finding your way through the complex:
http://www.seaportvillage.com/SeaportVillage.pdf
Return to the Gaslamp Quarter by walking along the marina and passing the Embacadero Park. At the end of the marina you will come along wide stairways leading you to the upper level of the convention center. Take the stairs and stay right on the upper floor. Next to the building at the upper floor is a small alley that leads you back to Harbor Drive. Descend the stairways to the street level. On the opposite you is 5th Avenue’s archway. Turn right into L Street and make a left into 6th Avenue and return to Horton Plaza.
3rd stop: 6th Avenue
Along 6th Avenue you are passing hotels, more shops, restaurants and more old buildings.
On building worth to mention is the George Hill Building at 527 F Street at the corner of 6th Ave. The office building replaced Horton’s Hall, San Diego’s first theatre building that burned down in 1897.
If you make a left into F Street you get back to Horton Plaza.
4th stop: Horton Plaza
Before the Horton Plaza became a five level outdoor shopping center it was a plaza with greens and trees in New Town. In the 1960’s and 1970’s it was turned into a public transportation center before the shopping center was opened in 1985. Today it is featuring 130 shops and an interesting architecture with mismatched levels and a colorful design.
Gaslamp Quarter is a great spot to spend the evening. The old buildings, the lights and venues create an inviting atmosphere. If you like to enjoy the sunset, head to one of the many rooftop bars in the quarter.
Before the Horton Plaza became a five level outdoor shopping center it was a plaza with greens and trees in New Town. In the 1960’s and 1970’s it was turned into a public transportation center before the shopping center was opened in 1985. Today it is featuring 130 shops and an interesting architecture with mismatched levels and a colorful design.
Gaslamp Quarter is a great spot to spend the evening. The old buildings, the lights and venues create an inviting atmosphere. If you like to enjoy the sunset, head to one of the many rooftop bars in the quarter.
