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 16½-block neighborhood in the downtown area of San Diego, California. It extends from Broadway to Harbor Drive, and from 4th to 6th Avenue.
Listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places as Gaslamp Quarter Historic District, it includes 94 historic buildings, most of which were constructed in the Victorian Era; many are in use as restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, and nightclubs.
It is the site of various events and festivals, including Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp, Street Scene Music Festival, Taste of Gaslamp, and ShamROCK, a St. Patrick's Day event. Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, is one block away in the East Village neighborhood.
San Diegans generally refer to the area as "the Gaslamp", rarely "Gaslamp Quarter", as on the entryway arch and official city signage and banners.
History
When development of the area began in the 1860s, the area currently known as the Gaslamp Quarter was known as New Town, in contrast to Old Town, which was the original Spanish colonial settlement of San Diego. Though Gaslamps were not the main source of lighting in the district, it was chosen as the symbol for the "Gaslamp Quarter" during the redevelopment and preservation efforts that occurred during the 1980s. In actuality, the main source of lighting was arc lighting. Four new gaslamps have been installed at the intersection of Market Street and 5th Avenue.
Timeline
- 1850: William Heath Davis bought 160 acres (0.65 km2) in what would eventually become the Gaslamp Quarter. Despite heavy investment from Davis, little development happened in this period.
- 1867: Real estate developer Alonzo Horton arrived in San Diego and purchased 800 acres (3.2 km2) of land in New Town for $265. Major development began in the Gaslamp Quarter.
- 1880s to 1900s: Known as the Stingaree, the area was home to many saloons and gambling halls.
- 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.
- 1982: Gaslamp Quarter became the major focus of the redevelopments in downtown by the city of San Diego.
See also
In Spanish: Gaslamp Quarter para niños
