Page 1 includes Welcome to San Diego -- Trolleys -- Gaslamp Quarter -- Old Town
We arrived in San Diego on a beautiful January morning on the Amtrak Surfliner Train
January 2012
January 2012
Left: One of the views just after getting off the train at the Santa Fe Depot
Right: The Surfliner at the end of the line in San Diego
January 2012
January 2012
Santa Fe Depot - January 2012
January 2012
January 2012
The Santa Fe Train Depot was built in 1915 by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad and nearly torn down in the 1970s. Fortunately, it was saved by concerned citizens. It continues to serve hundreds of people daily with Amtrak Surfliner Route, the Coaster Commuter train and trolley access just across the street at the America Plaza Station. It is the 11th busiest Amtrak Station in the country. The depot is in the Spanish Colonial Revival style and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has natural redwood beams on the inside ceiling and ceramic tiles on the walls. A large portico at one end of the building was torn down in 1954 to make way for a parking lot. The large blue Santa Fe sign was added in the mid-1950s..
To the right is a picturesque walkway along the railroad tracks.
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The MTS Trolleys are used to get around in San Diego. The system also includes many bus lines in and around town
Near the America Plaza Station for the Trolley
January 2012
January 2012
America Plaza Trolley Station. You can take the blue or orange lines
at this center to go just about anywhere in the area..
To the right is the inside of one of the trolleys
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This area is about 16 blocks with shopping, dining, entertainment, cultural events, hotels and an exciting nightlife
The area was the first settlement of "new town" around 1850, but was later abandoned and became known as "Rabbitville" because they were
the main residents of the area. Later, around 1867, Alonzo Horton, arrived to build a new town on the old site near the waterfront.
He was successful and the new city began to prosper and grow.
By 1980, the area had been re-vitalized and became a National Historic Site. There are ongoing efforts to continue to restore and update the area
buildings along with providing entertainment and a healthy nightlife for residents and visitors alike.
Entrance sign to the Gaslamp Quarter - 2012
The Gas Lamp Quarter trolley stop looking at the Convention Center across the street-2012
The Gaslamp Quarter was once the main business area of San Diego. When Alonzo Horton arrived in 1867 to establishment the "new town", this 16 block area evolved into a "redlight district". Early in the 20th century, there was a further decline, changing the area even more to a skid row type of place. Since that time, the quarter has been polished up, renovated and revitalized. It is now a National Historic District and has over 100 Victorian structures. There is a good mix of hotels, antique stores, boutiques, offices, artists studios, shops and clubs. There is a healthy nightlife here, particularly on the weekends. Famous sheriff, Wyatt Earp, owned three gambling halls in this area at one time. A guided walking tour of the district is available leaving from the William Heath Davis House & Museum at 410 Island Ave.
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This historic area includes a State Historic Park, the Heritage Park, the Mormon Battalion Memorial, Presidio Park and much more.
Many of the buildings are original and have been restored. It generally tells the story of the times between 1821 and 1872.
The Heritage Park is a county park of eight acres with beautiful Victorian homes and San Diego's first synagogue. The synagogue is now a community center
The Mormon Battalion Memorial has a history of the battalion with a great multimedia presentation, nice views from the tower, mining for gold and pictures from an old time camera
Presidio Park is where the original Presidio and Mission were once located. It is now a nice park and excavations are ongoing for artifacts and foundations of buildings.
The Junipero Serra Museum is located in the park as well as Fort Stockton.
The Transportation Center in Old Town San Diego
The Plaza in the Historic Park - January 2012
This flagpole was made from a ship's mast
Wells Fargo and Courthouse Museum
La Casa de Estudillo - A fully restored Adobe first build by the Presidio Commander
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
The church has been in continuous operation since July 22, 1917
One of Old Town's streets with shops and stands lining the sides.
Sample of an old wooden cart and wheel
General Store where you can really buy things!
The Mormon Battalion ended their journey here in San Diego. They spent much time working here and helping to build homes, businesses, churches.
Some of them remained while others returned home to their families.
January 2012
An eight acre county park, with a wide expanse of green grass, shows off six restored Victorian mansions
The First Synagogue, Temple Beth Israel, in San Diego was built here here around 1889 and now serves as a community center for weddings
meetings and other events . It has been fully restored. The homes were moved here when threatened with demolition elsewhere and have
been carefully restored with careful attention to period furnishings.
Temple Beth Israel in Heritage Park - 2012
Sign on for a great tour that goes by many tourist attractions in San Diego. It has stops frequently
during the day and your ticket is good for the whole day. A good way to see everything!
The Colorado House is home to the Wells Fargo History Museum
The San Diego Courthouse Museum is
next door to the Colorado House
The McCoy House
The McCoy House was built in 1869 and now is used as a museum. It was first owned by James McCoy and his wife. It was built in the popular greek Revival architecture that was popular in that time. McCoy was county assessor, sheriff and a state senator between 1859 until 1871. The house was restored in 2000.
The Old Town area includes many more structures and homes, among them the Alvarado House, built in 1830, the Casa de Wrightington, from the 1930s, the Casa Machado Silvas built in 1843, the Dodson Building from 1869, the first San Diego Courthouse, La Plaza de las Armas, built in 1827
and much, much more.
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