San Diego Gaslamp History and Architecture Walking Tour

5.0(1)1 h 30 minFree cancellationBy Fable Hospitality

About this activity

Most people walk the Gaslamp Quarter for the restaurants and never learn how San Diego got here. This tour tells that story on the blocks where it happened.

It starts in 1867, when Alonzo Horton bought hundreds of acres of empty waterfront land for next to nothing and bet the city’s future was here, not in Old Town. He was right.

A local storyteller leads a small group past the Balboa Theatre, the 1920s movie palace still putting on shows; the Louis Bank of Commerce, a jewel of the 1880s boom; the Callan Hotel; and the spot where San Diego’s original zoo began. We visit the Horton Grand, a Victorian hotel taken apart and rebuilt brick by brick, and finish at the Gaslamp Museum in the Davis-Horton House, the oldest house still standing downtown.

Easy pace, plenty of photo stops, and 90 minutes of stories you won’t get from a plaque.

What's included

✓Local recommendations
✓Knowledgeable Tour Guide
✓Excellent photo opportunities

Not included

✕Gratuities

Meeting and pickup

Your tour guide will be near the fountain waiting to check you in for the tour!

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Entrance into buildings is not included

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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