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A Large Survey Map of Downtown San Diego

An impressive manuscript map of downtown San Diego, dated February 1889, and focused on the Embarcadero area. The map shows a generous swath of downtown San Diego, bounded in the north by D street (present-day Broadway), on the south and west by San Diego Bay, and on the east by Union Street. 

The map was drawn by H. S. Fletcher, Chief Draughtsman for the San Diego County Surveyor, and offers a window onto the urban landscape of late 19th-century San Diego. Created with pen and ink, with original wash color on drafting linen, the map delineates a good part of the core of modern downtown San Diego. It was made as "Map Exhibit A" in an election fraud case of Russell vs. McDowell, and notes such features as the Santa Fe Railroad, several wharves, U.S. military installations, and public spaces like Horton Plaza.

At the time of the map's creation, San Diego was in a phase of rapid development and transformation. The late 1880s marked a pivotal moment in the city's history, with the arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad connecting it to the rest of the nation and subsequently fueling its expansion. The Embarcadero area, prominently displayed on the map, was becoming a critical hub for maritime trade and transportation, evidenced by the detailed rendering of wharves like Jorres', Spreckels, and Carlson & Higgins'. Concurrently, public spaces like Horton Plaza were emerging as centers of civic life, while military installations signified the strategic importance of San Diego in the broader national context.

The map’s draughtsmanship, executed by H.S. Fletcher, reflects the precision and technical skill associated with cartographic practices of the era. The following sites are noted on the map:

• Santa Fe Railroad
• Jones' Wharf
• Spreckels Wharf
• Carlson & Higgins' (Boat House) Wharf
• Santa Fe Wharf. Coronado Ferry. Street Car R.R.
• Plaza (Horton Plaza)
• U.S. Barracks (an entire city block bounded by G. Street on the north, H Street on the south, California St. on the west, Arctic St. on the east)
• U.S. Corral

In sum, the map provides insight into land-use patterns, infrastructural development, and maritime activities that shaped downtown San Diego in the late 19th century. Thus, the map stands as a valuable historical source, encapsulating various aspects of San Diego's history, from urban planning and transportation to military affairs.