Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
Gaslamp Quarter Historic District | |
 | |
     | |
| Location | Bounded by RR tracks, Broadway, 4th, and 6th Aves.,San Diego, California |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°42′42″N117°9′33″W/ 32.71167°N 117.15917°W |
| Area | 38 acres (15 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian,Art Deco |
| NRHP referenceNo. | 80000841[1] |
| SDHLNo. | 127 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 23, 1980 |
| Designated SDHL | June 2, 1978[2] |
TheGaslamp Quarteris a 16½-block neighborhood in thedowntownarea ofSan Diego,California.It extends from Broadway to Harbor Drive, and from 4th to 6th Avenue.
Listed as ahistoric districton theNational Register of Historic Placesas theGaslamp Quarter Historic District,it includes over 90 historic buildings[3],most of which were constructed in theVictorian Era;many are in use as restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, and nightclubs.
It is the site of various events and festivals, includingMardi Grasin the Gaslamp,Street Scene Music Festival,Taste of Gaslamp, and ShamROCK, aSt. Patrick's Dayevent.Petco Park,home of theSan Diego Padres,is one block away in theEast Villageneighborhood.
History[edit]
In the 1860s, the area was known as New Town, in contrast toOld Town,the original Spanish colonial settlement of San Diego.[4]Intensive development began in 1867, whenAlonzo Hortonbought the land in hopes of creating a new city center closer to the bay, and chose 5th Avenue as its main street.[5]
After a period ofurban decay,the neighborhood underwenturban renewalin the 1980s and 1990s.[6]
It was rebranded the "Gaslamp Quarter" during the redevelopment and preservation efforts that occurred during the 1980s, though the streets were generally lit byarc lights,notgaslamps.[7]
Timeline[edit]
- 1850:William Heath Davisbought 160 acres (0.65 km2) in what would eventually become the Gaslamp Quarter. Despite heavy investment from Davis, little development happened in this period.[8]
- 1867: Real estate developerAlonzo Hortonarrived in San Diego and purchased 800 acres (3.2 km2) of land in New Town for $265. Major development began in the Gaslamp Quarter.[9]
- 1880s to 1916: Known as theStingaree,the area was a working class area, home to San Diego's firstChinatown,"Soapbox Row" and many saloons, gambling halls, andbordellos.
- 1912: Stingaree was the site of afree speech fightbetween socialists and city politicians which led to riots and the abduction by vigilantes ofEmma Goldman's husband.[10]
- 1916: the entire neighborhood of Stingaree was demolished and renamed by anti-vicecampaigners.[11]
- 1950s-1970s: The decaying Gaslamp Quarter became known as a "Sailor's Entertainment" district, with a high concentration of pornographic theaters, bookshops andmassage parlors.[12]
- 1970: Public interest in preserving buildings downtown started, especially in Gaslamp Quarter.
- 1976: The city adopted the Gaslamp Quarter Urban Design and Development Manual, aimed at preserving buildings in the area, and the redevelopment of Gaslamp Quarter as a national historic district.[13]
- 1982: Gaslamp Quarter became the major focus of the redevelopments in downtown by the city of San Diego.[citation needed]
- 1992: Gaslamp Quarter Archway is installed and dedicated.[14]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.March 13, 2009.
- ^"Historical Landmarks Designated by the San Diego Historical Resources Board"(PDF).City of San Diego. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 18, 2018.RetrievedNovember 18,2012.
- ^"San Diego - Gaslamp Quarter Historical Markers".hmdb.org.RetrievedMay 30,2024.
- ^"10 Fun Facts About San Diego's Historic Gaslamp Quarter".sandiego.org.RetrievedJuly 9,2021.
- ^"Alonzo Horton – Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation".RetrievedMay 30,2024.
- ^"Gaslamp Quarter Historic District | TCLF".tclf.org.RetrievedMay 30,2024.
- ^"Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation".gaslampfoundation.org.RetrievedApril 13,2016.
- ^"Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation".
- ^"San Diego Historical Society".Archived fromthe originalon December 24, 2015.RetrievedOctober 10,2007.
- ^"When San Diego Had Its Own Big Labor Clash".Voice of San Diego.March 15, 2011.RetrievedJuly 9,2021.
- ^"Shady Ladies in the" Stingaree District "When The Red Lights Went Out in San Diego".San Diego History Center. Archived fromthe originalon October 24, 2005.RetrievedMarch 8,2011.
- ^Sanford, Jay Allen (July 23, 2008)."Before It Was the Gaslamp: Downtown's Grindhouse Row (updated 8-22-09) | San Diego Reader".sandiegoreader.RetrievedJuly 9,2021.
- ^"Gaslamp Quarter Planned District Design Guidelines 2009"(PDF).SanDiego.gov.
- ^"Gaslamp Quarter History | Downtown San Diego, California".San Diego Gaslamp Quarter.RetrievedJuly 9,2021.
External links[edit]
- Gaslamp Quarter Association
- Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation
- Centre City Development Corporation
- Information about Gaslamp Quarter Happenings
- Information about Gaslamp Neighborhood
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- Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
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- Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in California
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