Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
{{For|the San Diego Trolley station|Gaslamp Quarter station}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Gaslamp Quarter Historic District
| nrhp_type = hd
| nocat = yes
| image = Gaslamp Quarter 01.jpg
| caption =
| location = Bounded by RR tracks, Broadway, 4th, and 6th Aves., San Diego, California
| coordinates = {{coord|32|42|42|N|117|9|33|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = United States San Diego#USA California San Diego County#USA California#USA
| architect = Multiple
| architecture = Late Victorian, Art Deco
| added = May 23, 1980
| designated_other1 = San Diego
| designated_other1_number = 127
| area = {{convert|38|acre}}
| refnum = 80000841{{NRISref|2009a}}
}}
The Gaslamp Quarter is a historic neighborhood in downtown San Diego, California. It extends from Broadway to Harbor Drive and from 4th to 6th Avenue. The neighborhood is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places as the Gaslamp Quarter Historic District. It includes over 90 historic buildings,{{Cite web |title=San Diego - Gaslamp Quarter Historical Markers |url=https://www.hmdb.org/results.asp?Search=Series&SeriesID=186 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}} most of which were constructed in the Victorian era; many are in use as restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, and nightclubs.
The Gaslamp Quarter is known for its nightlife. It is the site of various events and festivals, including Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp, 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.
History
Image:Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego.jpg
In the 1860s, the area was known as New Town, in contrast to Old Town, the original Spanish colonial settlement of San Diego.{{Cite web |title=10 Fun Facts About San Diego's Historic Gaslamp Quarter |url=https://www.sandiego.org/articles/downtown/gaslamp-10-fun-facts.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920071557/https://www.sandiego.org/articles/downtown/gaslamp-10-fun-facts.aspx |archive-date=2020-09-20 |access-date=2021-07-09 |website=San Diego Tourism Authority |language=en-US}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS). Tourism Authoritiy is a WP:COI and WP:PROMO isue.|date=January 2025}} Intensive development began in 1867, when Alonzo Horton bought the land in hopes of creating a new city center closer to the bay, and chose 5th Avenue as its main street.{{Cite web |title=Alonzo Horton – Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation |url=https://gaslampfoundation.org/alonzo-horton/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=gaslampfoundation.org |language=en-US}}
After a period of urban decay, the neighborhood underwent urban renewal in the 1980s and 1990s.{{Cite web |title=Gaslamp Quarter Historic District {{!}} TCLF |url=https://www.tclf.org/gaslamp-quarter-historic-district |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=The Cultural Landscape Foundation}}
It was rebranded the "Gaslamp Quarter" during the redevelopment and preservation efforts that occurred during the 1980s, though the streets were generally lit by arc lights, not gaslamps.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
Timeline
- 1850: William Heath Davis bought {{convert|160|acre|km2}} in what would eventually become the Gaslamp Quarter. Despite heavy investment from Davis, little development happened in this period.{{cite web |title=William Heath Davis |url=http://www.gaslampfoundation.org/william-heath-davis/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220065643/https://gaslampfoundation.org/william-heath-davis/ |archive-date=2016-02-20 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation}}
- 1867: Real estate developer Alonzo Horton arrived in San Diego and purchased {{convert|800|acre|km2}} of land in New Town for $265. Major development began in the Gaslamp Quarter.{{cite web
| title = San Diego Historical Society
| url = http://www.sandiegohistory.org/timeline/timeline1.htm#1860
| access-date = October 10, 2007
| archive-date = December 24, 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151224204925/https://www.sandiegohistory.org/timeline/timeline1.htm#1860
| url-status = dead
}}
- 1880s to 1916: Known as the Stingaree, the area was a working class area, home to San Diego's first Chinatown, "Soapbox Row" and many saloons, gambling halls, and bordellos.
- 1912: Stingaree was the site of a free speech fight between socialists and city politicians which led to riots and the abduction by vigilantes of Emma Goldman's husband.{{Cite web |last=Dotinga |first=Randy |date=2011-03-15 |title=When San Diego Had Its Own Big Labor Clash |url=https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/news/when-san-diego-had-its-own-big-labor-clash/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203234816/https://voiceofsandiego.org/2011/03/15/when-san-diego-had-its-own-big-labor-clash/ |archive-date=2014-12-03 |access-date=2021-07-09 |website=Voice of San Diego |language=en-US}}
- 1916: the entire neighborhood of Stingaree was demolished and renamed by anti-vice campaigners.{{Cite journal |last=MacPhail |first=Elizabeth |date=Spring 1970 |title=Shady Ladies in the "Stingaree District": WHEN THE RED LIGHTS WENT OUT IN SAN DIEGO |url=http://sandiegohistory.org/journal/74spring/stingaree.htm |url-status=dead |journal=The Journal of San Diego History |volume=20 |issue=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051024201814/http://sandiegohistory.org/journal/74spring/stingaree.htm |archive-date=2005-10-24 |via=sandiegohistory.org}}
- 1950s-1970s: The decaying Gaslamp Quarter became known as a "Sailor's Entertainment" district, with a high concentration of pornographic theaters, bookshops and massage parlors.{{Cite web |last=Sanford |first=Jay Allen |date=2008-07-23 |title=Before It Was the Gaslamp: Downtown's Grindhouse Row (updated 8-22-09) |url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/jul/23/before-it-was-the-gaslamp-now-with-50-more-content/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708074032/https://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2008/jul/23/before-it-was-the-gaslamp-now-with-50-more-content/ |archive-date=2009-07-08 |access-date=2021-07-09 |website=San Diego Reader |language=en}}
- 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.{{Cite web |last=Lia |first=Marie Burke |date=2009 |title=Gaslamp Quarter Planned District Design Guidelines 2009 |url=https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/gaslamp-quarter-design-guidelines.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190809/https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/gaslamp-quarter-design-guidelines.pdf |archive-date=2021-07-09 |website=SanDiego.gov}}
- 1982: Gaslamp Quarter became the major focus of the redevelopments in downtown by the city of San Diego.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
- 1992: Gaslamp Quarter Archway is installed and dedicated.{{Cite web |title=Gaslamp Quarter History {{!}} Downtown San Diego, California |url=https://www.gaslamp.org/history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221191852/http://gaslamp.org/history/ |archive-date=2016-02-21 |access-date=2021-07-09 |website=gaslamp.org |language=en-US}}
See also
{{Portal|California}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego}}
- [http://www.gaslamp.org/ Gaslamp Quarter Association]
- [https://gaslampfoundation.org/ Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation]
- [http://www.ccdc.com/ Centre City Development Corporation]
- [http://www.GaslampLocal.com/ Information about Gaslamp Quarter Happenings]
- [http://www.viva-city.info/neighborhood_GaslampQuarter.htm Information about Gaslamp Neighborhood]
{{Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego}}
{{Historic Districts in San Diego County}}
{{Neighborhoods of San Diego}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Entertainment districts in California
Category:Landmarks in San Diego
Category:Historic districts in San Diego
Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in California
Category:National Register of Historic Places in San Diego