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Description

Alonzo Horton's Hotel

Fine early image of Horton House, looking east up Broadway.

Horton House appears at the left, with Horton Plaza, between Third and Fourth Avenue on the right.

The Horton House was one of San Diego’s first significant hotels, built by Alonzo Horton in 1870. Horton, a key figure in the development of modern San Diego, purchased large tracts of land and envisioned a new downtown area. To attract settlers and boost the city’s growth, he constructed Horton House on the block now known as Broadway and Third Avenue. This two-story, wooden structure featured 100 rooms and quickly became a center of social and political life in the burgeoning town.

The hotel was celebrated for its modern amenities for the time, such as gas lighting and private rooms, making it a symbol of progress in San Diego. It served travelers, dignitaries, and businesspeople and played a role in transforming San Diego from a small frontier town to a bustling city. In 1906, Horton House was demolished to make way for the US Grant Hotel, which stands today on the same site, continuing its legacy as a key part of San Diego’s development.

Condition Description
Original silver gelatin print, mounted on card. Possibly a later (early 20th-century) printing from original negative.