San Diego Historic Gaslamp Quarter Walking Tour

Step into a time machine and travel back to the vibrant days of old San Diego in 1850s. Picture a determined visionary named William Heath Davis, a San Franciscan with big dreams, setting his sights on creating a thriving town. Davis rolls up his sleeves and begins transforming the land near Market Street, pioneering the birth of what would become the remarkable Historic Gaslamp Quarter.
In a stroke of genius, Davis constructs a magnificent pre-framed lumber "salt box" house for his family, right at the heart of the action.

Fast forward to today, and we invite you to join us on a captivating walking tour through the streets of what was once playfully called "Rabbitville." Welcome to the one and only Historic Gaslamp Quarter! As you step into this time capsule of Victorian charm, get ready for an unforgettable experience that will transport you back in time.

Meeting Point

300 G St

300 G St, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Gaslamp Quarter

Fourth Avenue between Broadway and Market, San Diego, 92101, California

The Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego is a vibrant, historic district known for its Victorian-era architecture, lively nightlife, diverse dining scene, and numerous entertainment venues, making it a popular destination for both locals and tourists.

30 minutes

Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House

410 Island Ave, , San Diego, 92101-6925, California

San Diego's William Heath Davis House is the oldest surviving structure in the New Town area. It was one of the first houses built in 1850 in the New Town. The house is a well-preserved example of a pre-framed lumber “salt box” family home from the East Coast. It was shipped to California by boat around Cape Horn.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Spreckels Theater

121 Broadway, , San Diego, 92101-5006, California

The Spreckels Theatre, a historic landmark in downtown San Diego, is a renowned performing arts venue that opened in 1912. The theater is a 1,915-seat auditorium with an ornate Baroque interior. The auditorium is open with no pillars or columns to obstruct sightlines. The number of seats was chosen to correspond with the Panama–California Exposition year (1915).

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Horton Grand Hotel

311 Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Set in a 19th-century building, this elegant hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter is a 12-minute walk from the San Diego Civic Theatre and 14 minutes' walk from shopping and dining at Seaport Village.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

William Penn Hotel

511 F St, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

The William Penn Hotel in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter is a historic structure, formerly the Oxford Hotel, that now operates as a Sonder — The William Penn Aparthotel with a focus on luxury apartments, offering amenities like kitchenettes and free Wi-Fi, and is located near popular attractions.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Simmons Hotel

542 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

The Simmons Hotel is an historic structure located at 542 6th Avenue in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, in the U.S. state of California. It was built in 1906. In the past it was called the Burbank (1907), the Sixth Street Rooms (1908), the Prescott (1909-1918), the Hotel North in 1921 and the Simmons Hotel in 1965. The building is on the former site of the San Diego Granite Works.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Old City Hall

672 5th Ave, Ca 92101, San Diego, 92101-6916, California

The Old City Hall in San Diego, located at 5th and G Street in the Gaslamp Quarter, is a historic building constructed in 1874, originally a two-story brick structure, and later expanded to four stories, housing city government offices, the police department, and the city council chambers.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Yuma Building

631 5th Ave, Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego, 92101-6915, California

The Yuma Building, a historic landmark in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, is a three-story plus basement mixed-use property located at 629-633 Fifth Avenue, featuring ground-floor retail, office basement space, and a luxurious two-story townhome on the upper floors.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Sparks Gallery

530 Sixth Ave, San Diego, 92101-7010, California

Located in the historic Sterling Hardware Building in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, Sparks Gallery is an event space and art gallery, specializing in contemporary artwork by artists living in Southern California.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Historic Louis Bank of Commerce

835 5th Ave # 837, San Diego, 92101-6134, California

The Louis Bank of Commerce, located at 835-837 5th Avenue in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, is a historic four-story Baroque Revival building with twin towers, known as the "Queen of the Gaslamp" for its elaborate Victorian architecture.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Chuck Jones Gallery

232 5th Ave, San Diego, 92101-6958, California

Gallery specializing in iconic animation cartoonists, especially Chuck Jones of Bugs Bunny fame.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included