The Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego is one of the largest and most significant historic districts in the country. The district encompassing sixteen and one half city blocks with over ninety buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. There are many examples of beautiful Victorian commercial buildings and fine examples of many other architectural styles as well. Many are well over 100 years old, and Classical Revival, Spanish Renaissance Revival, Modern, Oriental, Spanish, Baroque and Italian Baroque Revival are just a few of the eclectic architectural styles to be enjoyed in the district. The buildings have beautiful details, like stained glass windows, corbels, moldings, carvings, casements, columns, railings, etc. and are painted with vibrant colors.
Besides the beauty of the gas lighted streets, you will find have some of the finest in dining in all of San Diego. While strolling down these gorgeous streets one wonders why are all these beautiful old buildings here?
San Diego has always been a large miltary port and in the early 1900's it was the redlight district of San Diego. The name of the neighborhood at that time was Stingaree. In 1912 The city fathers decided to clean up the are and arrested a rousing 138 postitutes which sparked the decline of the area as a redklight district. Numerous tries at revival of the area, but is never attained its potential. Way into the 1950's when the area began a haven for Pornographic theaters and bookshops.
In the 1970's public interest in preserving buildings in downtown San Diego , and special interest was given to this area. In 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. In 1982 Gaslamp Quarter became the major focus of the redevelopments in downtown by the city of San Diego, resulting in the current ambienance and of the area today. Thank You City fathers for preserving such a this part of our history.
