Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego facts for kids
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Gaslamp Quarter Historic District
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 Location in San Diego
Location in San Diego County, California
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bounded by RR tracks, Broadway, 4th, and 6th Aves., San Diego, California |
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| Area | 38 acres (15 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000841 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 23, 1980 |
The Gaslamp Quarter is a super cool historic neighborhood right in downtown San Diego, California. It's a lively area known for its old buildings and fun atmosphere. This special neighborhood stretches from Broadway down to Harbor Drive, and from 4th to 6th Avenue.
It's officially recognized as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a really important place with a lot of history! The Gaslamp Quarter has over 90 historic buildings. Most of these were built a long time ago, during the Victorian era. Today, many of them are busy restaurants, unique shops, fun entertainment spots, and even nightclubs.
The Gaslamp Quarter is famous for its exciting evening activities and events. It hosts many festivals throughout the year. Some popular ones include Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp, the Taste of Gaslamp food festival, and ShamROCK, a big St. Patrick's Day party. Plus, Petco Park, where the San Diego Padres baseball team plays, is just one block away in the East Village neighborhood.
Exploring the Gaslamp Quarter's Past
The story of the Gaslamp Quarter began in the 1860s. Back then, this area was called New Town. This was to show it was different from Old Town, which was the very first Spanish settlement in San Diego.
Even though gaslamps weren't the main way the district was lit up, the name "Gaslamp Quarter" was chosen later. This happened in the 1980s when people worked hard to bring the area back to life and preserve its history. Actually, the main lights used to be arc lights. Today, you can see four new gaslamps at the intersection of Market Street and 5th Avenue, adding to the historic feel.
Key Moments in Gaslamp Quarter History
- 1850: A person named William Heath Davis bought 160 acres (about 0.65 square kilometers) of land. This land would later become the Gaslamp Quarter. Even though Davis invested a lot, not much was built during this time.
- 1867: A real estate developer named Alonzo Horton came to San Diego. He bought 800 acres (about 3.2 square kilometers) of land in New Town for just $265! After Horton arrived, major building and development really started in the Gaslamp Quarter.
- 1912: This area, once known as Stingaree, saw a big event called a free speech fight. It was a disagreement between people who believed in socialism and city leaders. This led to some protests.
- 1916: The entire Stingaree neighborhood was changed and given a new name. This was part of an effort to improve the area.
- 1970: People started to become interested in saving the old buildings downtown, especially in the Gaslamp Quarter.
- 1976: The city created a plan called the Gaslamp Quarter Urban Design and Development Manual. This plan aimed to protect the historic buildings and help the Gaslamp Quarter become a national historic district.
- 1982: The Gaslamp Quarter became a main focus for downtown redevelopment by the city of San Diego.
- 1992: The famous Gaslamp Quarter Archway, a welcoming sign for the area, was put in place and officially opened.
See also
In Spanish: Gaslamp Quarter para niños
