kids encyclopedia robot

List of Gaslamp Quarter historic buildings facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Gaslamp Quarter Historic District in San Diego, California is a super cool area filled with historic buildings! It's like stepping back in time. Many of these buildings are really old and have amazing stories. This list comes from a special guide that helps people explore the Gaslamp Quarter on a walking tour. You can even find numbers on plaques outside many of these buildings, just like the ones in this guide!

Historic Buildings of the Gaslamp Quarter

The Gaslamp Quarter is home to many buildings that have stood for over a hundred years. Each one has its own unique history. Let's explore some of the most interesting ones!

Early Buildings and Homes

Some of the oldest buildings in the Gaslamp Quarter show us what San Diego was like long ago.

William Heath Davis House

The William Heath Davis House was built in 1850. It's the oldest building still standing in what's called "New Town" San Diego. Imagine living in a house that's over 170 years old!

William Heath Davis House 1850
The historic William Heath Davis House.

Yamada Building

The Yamada Building was constructed in 1869. It's another one of the very early buildings that helped shape the Gaslamp Quarter.

Yamada Building 1869
The Yamada Building, dating back to 1869.

Spencer Ogden Building

Built in 1874, the Spencer Ogden Building is a great example of the architecture from that time.

Spencer-Ogden Building 1874
The Spencer Ogden Building from 1874.

Old City Hall

The Old City Hall was also built in 1874. It was once known as the Commercial Bank Building. Can you imagine this building being where important city decisions were made?

Old City Hall, San Diego
San Diego's Old City Hall in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Bijou Theater

Right next to the Old City Hall, the Bijou Theater was built in 1875. It was sometimes called the Old City Hall Addition. It's fun to think about what movies or shows people watched here back then!

Bijou Theater (Gaslamp Quarter), 1875
The historic Bijou Theater.

Loring Building

The Loring Building dates back to 1873. It's one of the many buildings that give the Gaslamp Quarter its historic charm.

Loring Building 1873
The Loring Building.

Combination Store

The Combination Store was built in 1880. It's a reminder of the types of shops that existed in San Diego over a century ago.

Combination Store 1880
The Combination Store from 1880.

Hotels and Places to Stay

Many old hotels in the Gaslamp Quarter tell stories of travelers and new beginnings.

Windsor Hotel

The Windsor Hotel was built in 1887. Hotels like this were very important for people visiting San Diego in the late 1800s.

Windsor Hotel 1887
The Windsor Hotel.

Marin Hotel

Another hotel from 1888 is the Marin Hotel. It's recognized as a San Diego Historic Landmark.

The Marin Hotel.

Lincoln Hotel

The Lincoln Hotel was built a bit later, in 1913. It shows how the area continued to grow and welcome visitors.

Lincoln Hotel 1913
The Lincoln Hotel.

St. James Hotel

The St. James Hotel opened in 1912. It's another beautiful example of the early 20th-century architecture in the area.

St. James Hotel 1912
The St. James Hotel.

New York Hotel

The New York Hotel, built in 1887, adds to the diverse history of the Gaslamp Quarter's lodging options.

New York Hotel 1887
The New York Hotel.

Horton Grand Hotel and Kahle Saddlery

The Horton Grand Hotel and Kahle Saddlery was built in 1886. It's a San Diego Historic Landmark and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was once known as the Brooklyn Hotel.

Horton Grand and Kahle Saddlery 1886
The Horton Grand Hotel and Kahle Saddlery.

Shops and Businesses

Many buildings were once busy shops and offices.

Broker's Building

The Broker's Building, built in 1889, was also known as the Klauber-Wangenheim Building. It's a great example of the business buildings from that era.

Klauber-Wangenheim Building 1889
The Broker's Building.

San Diego Hardware Building

The San Diego Hardware Building was built in 1910. Imagine all the tools and supplies that were sold here!

San Diego Hardware 1910
The San Diego Hardware Building.

Sterling Hardware Building

Another hardware store, the Sterling Hardware Building, was built in 1924. It shows how important these types of businesses were to the community.

Sterling Hardware 1887
The Sterling Hardware Building.

Young Building

The Young Building, from 1883, had an interesting past. It was also known as the Sun Cafe, which started as a shooting gallery in the 1920s before becoming a restaurant!

Sun Cafe 1922
The Young Building, also known as the Sun Cafe.

Watts–Robinson Building

The Watts–Robinson Building was built in 1913. It's one of the many commercial buildings that made the Gaslamp Quarter a busy place.

Watts-Robinson Building 1913
The Watts–Robinson Building.

Dalton Building

The Dalton Building, built in 1911, was also known as the Universal Boot Shop. It's fun to think about what kind of boots they sold there!

Universal Boot Shop 1911
The Dalton Building, once the Universal Boot Shop.

Howard Building

The Howard Building, from 1887, was also known as the Flagg Brothers Building.

San Diego Jewelry and Loan
The Howard Building.

Ingersoll–Tutton Building

The Ingersoll–Tutton Building was built in 1894. It's another example of the beautiful architecture from that time.

Ingersoll Tutton Building, 1894
The Ingersoll–Tutton Building.

Mercantile Building

The Mercantile Building was also built in 1894. "Mercantile" means related to trade or commerce, so it was likely a place where goods were bought and sold.

Mercantile Building 1894
The Mercantile Building.

Samuel I. Fox Building

The Samuel I. Fox Building was built in 1929. It's a more modern addition to the historic district, showing how the area continued to develop.

Samuel I. Fox Building 1929
The Samuel I. Fox Building.

Theaters and Entertainment

The Gaslamp Quarter wasn't just for business; it was also a place for fun!

Dream Theatre

The Dream Theatre was built in 1885. Can you imagine going to see a show here over a hundred years ago?

Dream Theatre 1885
The historic Dream Theatre.

Casino Theatre

The Casino Theatre was built in 1912. It was another popular spot for entertainment in the early 1900s.

Casino Theatre 1912
The Casino Theatre.

Other Notable Buildings

I.O.O.F. Building

The I.O.O.F. Building was built in 1882. I.O.O.F. stands for "Independent Order of Odd Fellows," which is a fraternal organization. This building is a San Diego Historic Landmark.

IOOF Building 1882
The I.O.O.F. Building.

Chinese Laundry

The Chinese Laundry was built in 1923. It's a reminder of the diverse communities that have lived and worked in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Chinese Laundry 1923
The Chinese Laundry building.

Manila Cafe

The Manila Cafe was built in 1930. It's another example of the different cultures that have influenced the area.

Manila Cafe 1930
The Manila Cafe.

Pioneer Warehouse

The Pioneer Warehouse was built in 1918. Warehouses were important for storing goods that came into San Diego. An addition was built in 1925.

Pioneer Warehouse 1918
The Pioneer Warehouse.

Buel–Town Building

The Buel–Town Building was constructed in 1898. It's another piece of the Gaslamp Quarter's rich history.

Buel-Town Building 1898
The Buel–Town Building.

Chinese Mission

The Chinese Mission was built in 1927. It's now part of the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum.

San Diego Chinese Historical Museum 01
The Chinese Mission, now part of the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum.

Sheldon Block

The Sheldon Block was built in 1888. It's one of the many historic blocks that make up the Gaslamp Quarter.

Sheldon Block 1888
The Sheldon Block.

George Hill Building

The George Hill Building was built in 1897. It adds to the collection of late 19th-century buildings in the district.

George Hill Building 1897
The George Hill Building.

Alan John Factory

The Alan John Factory was built in 1908. Factories like this were important for local production.

Alan John Factory 1908
The Alan John Factory.

Simmons Hotel

The Simmons Hotel was built in 1906. It's another example of the many hotels that served visitors to San Diego.

Simmons Hotel 1906
The Simmons Hotel.

Quin Building

The Quin Building was built in 1930. There's also a Quin Building Addition from the same year.

Quin Building 1930
The Quin Building.
Quin Building Addition 1930
The Quin Building Addition.

Cotheret Building

The Cotheret Building, built in 1903, is also known as the Gaslamp Hotel.

Cotheret Building 1903
The Cotheret Building, also known as the Gaslamp Hotel.

Carriage Works

The Carriage Works was built in 1890. This building likely played a role in transportation back when carriages were common.

Carriage Works 1890
The Carriage Works building.

Labor Temple Building

The Labor Temple Building, built in 1907, was also known as Horton Parsons Hall. It likely served as a meeting place for workers.

Labor Temple 1907
The Labor Temple Building.

Paris Hotel

The Paris Hotel was built in 1910.

Paris Hotel 1910
The Paris Hotel.

Ingle Building

The Ingle Building, built in 1906, once housed the Golden Lion Tavern.

Ingle Building 1906
The Ingle Building.

Exchange Club

The Exchange Club was built in 1905.

Exchange Club 1905
The Exchange Club building.

Panama Cafe

The Panama Cafe was built in 1907.

Panama Cafe 1907
The Panama Cafe.

Granger Building

The Granger Building was built in 1904.

Granger Block 1904
The Granger Building.

Woolworth Building

The Woolworth Building was built in 1922.

Woolworth Building 1886
The Woolworth Building.

Onyx Hotel

The Onyx Hotel was built in 1910.

Onyx Hotel 1910
The Onyx Hotel.

Keating Building

The Keating Building, built in 1890, is a San Diego Historic Landmark.

Keating Building 1890
The Keating Building.

Louis Bank of Commerce

The Louis Bank of Commerce was built in 1888 and is a San Diego Historic Landmark.

Louis Bank of Commerce 1888
The Louis Bank of Commerce.

Nesmith–Greely Building

The Nesmith–Greely Building, built in 1888, is also a San Diego Historic Landmark.

Nesmith-Greely Building 1888
The Nesmith–Greely Building.

Hubbell Building

The Hubbell Building, built in 1887, is a San Diego Historic Landmark.

Hubbell Building 1886
The Hubbell Building.

Marston Building

The Marston Building, built in 1881, is another San Diego Historic Landmark.

Marston Block 1881
The Marston Building.

Llewelyn Building

The Llewelyn Building, built in 1887, is a San Diego Historic Landmark.

Llewelyn Building 1887
The Llewelyn Building.

Cole Block Building

The Cole Block Building, built in 1892, is a San Diego Historic Landmark.

Cole Block 1891
The Cole Block Building.

William Penn Hotel

The William Penn Hotel, built in 1920, was also known as the New Hotel Oxford.

New Hotel Oxford 1913
The William Penn Hotel.

Pierce-Field Building

The Pierce-Field Building was built in 1885.

Pierce-Field Building 1885
The Pierce-Field Building.

Backesto Building

The Backesto Building, built in 1873, is a San Diego Historic Landmark.

Backesto Building 1873
The Backesto Building.

Yuma Building

The Yuma Building, built in 1888, is a San Diego Historic Landmark.

Yuma Building 1882
The Yuma Building.

McGurck Block

The McGurck Block, built in 1887, is a San Diego Historic Landmark.

McGurck Block 1887
The McGurck Block.

Montijo Building

The Montijo Building was built in 1895.

Montijo Building 1881
The Montijo Building.

Lowenstein Building

The Lowenstein Building, built in 1887, is sometimes spelled Loewenstein.

Lowenstein Building 1887
The Lowenstein Building.

Lewis Brick Block

The Lewis Brick Block, also known as the Stingaree Hotel, was built in 1887.

Lewis Brick Block, Stingaree Hotel 1887
The Lewis Brick Block, or Stingaree Hotel.

Images for kids

See also

kids search engine
List of Gaslamp Quarter historic buildings Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.