The 1880s were a wild ride for San Diego city. The decade started with explosive growth, fueled by the arrival of the long-awaited railroad. It ended with a dramatic economic downturn. Despite the ups and downs, San Diego transformed from a small town into a recognizable city.
Circus Parade in Downtown, 1887Mission San Diego de Alcala, CaliforniaNavy training ship U.S.S. Ranger in San Diego harbor, 1884-1885Distant view of Mission San Diego Alcala, 1887Exterior view of the Bath House in San Diego, 1880View of San Diego looking southwest from the Florence Hotel, 1888Trolley in front of the Florence Hotel in San Diego, 1888Distant view of Mission San Diego Alcala, 1887Trolley in front of the Florence Hotel in San Diego, 1888General view of the front of the old San Diego Mission, 1880Panoramic view of San Diego, 1887Panoramic view of San Diego, 1887The Bath House in San Diego, 1880San Diego’s first public library, housed on the second floor of the Commercial Bank, Fifth and G Street, 1882.An Early horse car at foot of Fifth Avenue in San Diego, 1888Exterior view of the Mission San Diego ruins looking from the south, November 28, 1886The Mission San Diego ruins looking from the south, November 28, 1886Members of the Knights of Pythias gathered outside E.H. Boscher’s Drugstore, 1887Guests sitting on the veranda of the Florence Hotel in San Diego, 1888San Diego from the Bay, 1886.Downtown San Diego looking west from 18th and Market Street, 1880sVilla Montezuma at 1925 K Street, 1887An Early horse car at foot of Fifth Avenue in San Diego, 1888Downtown San Diego looking northwest toward Point Loma, 1880sFlorence Hotel, San Diego, 1889Plaza and surrounding buildings in downtown San Diego, 1880s.San Diego panorama, People, horses, a carriage, and dogs are in the street, 1880Old mission bells near several buildings in San Diego, 1886View of the Pacific Steamship Company wharf and warehouse at the foot of Fifth Street, 1887Large number of “For Sale” signs on a vacant lot near the Hotel Florence, 1889San Diego County Court House, 1887Woolwine, Sprigg and Nerney’s Abstract Office, San Diego, 1887View of San Diego from upper 7th Street, showing houses in the foreground, commercial buildings, and the harbor of San Diego Bay, 1885.US Army barracks at Kettner Boulevard and Market Street, 1885People gathered under a large tent for a real estate auction, 1888Men and women posing at a beach; showing a cove with eroded sandstone cliffs, surf, sand and kelp, Ocean Beach, 1887.Exterior of Jim Lee’s Laundry in downtown San Diego, 1885Dodge & Brubeck’s Bookstore in the Brunswick Hotel at the northeast corner of Fifth and D Street, 1888View of the Old Steamship Wharf at foot of 5th Street, San Diego, July 1886View of the Old Steamship Wharf at foot of 5th Street, San Diego, July 1886San Diego, showing buildings, streets, electric light towers, San Diego Bay with steam and sailing ships, Point Loma, and Coronado Islands, 1887.Chinese funeral procession led by musicians, followed by people carrying paper lanterns and banners, Buildings lining street including Young Men’s Christian Association, 1887.
The biggest event of the decade, without question, was the completion of the transcontinental railroad connection. The California Southern Railroad, which had started building north in the 1870s, finally connected with the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in 1885. This linked San Diego to the rest of the United States by rail.
The arrival of the first train was a huge celebration. People came from all over to witness the event. Businesses boomed. The population soared. It seemed like San Diego’s dreams were finally coming true. The railroad brought in thousands of new residents. People came seeking opportunities, a better climate, and a fresh start. They arrived from the East Coast, the Midwest, and even from other countries.
Land prices went through the roof. People bought and sold land quickly, hoping to make a fortune. This created a real estate “bubble,” with prices rising far beyond their real value.
Pacific Coast Steamship Company wharf at the foot of Fifth Avenue, showing a double-gabled clapboard building and railroad cars, 1888.Chinese funeral feast showing a group of men, and feast on tables, 1887.Real Estate Parade during the Boom Days, San Diego, November 18, 1885People and merchandise outside the Hamilton & Company store, 1888Exterior view of the Estudillo adobe in San Diego, site of Ramona’s wedding, 1887
A City Transformed
The rapid growth changed San Diego dramatically. New buildings went up everywhere. The wooden buildings of the 1870s were replaced by larger, more elaborate structures. Brick and stone became more common.
The downtown area expanded rapidly. New businesses opened, including hotels, restaurants, shops, and banks. The streets were filled with people, horses, and carriages. Streetcars, pulled by horses, began to operate, providing public transportation.
The city’s infrastructure improved. Streets were paved, gaslights were installed, and a better water system was developed. These changes made life more comfortable and convenient. The electric light would become more common later in the decade.
New neighborhoods were built. These areas included places like City Heights and Golden Hill. Houses in these neighborhoods were often built in the Victorian style, with ornate details. The look of the city became what we now think of when we picture the time period.
Street view of a parade going south on Fifth Avenue, below E Street, 1887Florence Hotel, located on First Street, designed by William Wallace Bowers, guests on the porch, horse-drawn carriage, 1885.Panoramic view of Mission Valley with the mission in the distance, San Diego, 1880Downtown Scene Looking Southwest, 1887Elevated view of D Street (later Broadway) from the east, looking toward San Diego Bay, showing a band, Opera House, 1887.San Diego from Sixth and E Street looking north, 1880sFrame building of the Pacific Coast Steamship Co., sacked freight, railroad tracks on wharf, 1887.The Brunswick, a three-story corner building with a turret; men posed on the veranda, San Diego, 1880.
Beyond Downtown
Growth wasn’t limited to the downtown area. Smaller towns and communities around San Diego also grew. Places like National City and Coronado became popular destinations. Coronado, across the bay from downtown, developed into a resort town. The Hotel del Coronado, a massive and luxurious hotel, was built in 1888. It became a landmark and attracted wealthy visitors from all over the world.
The Hotel del Coronado was a marvel of engineering and design. It was one of the largest wooden structures in the United States. It had its own power plant, providing electricity. It was a symbol of San Diego’s ambition and progress.
Agriculture also expanded. Farmers grew fruits, vegetables, and grains in the areas surrounding the city. The warm climate and fertile soil were ideal for farming. San Diego County became known for its citrus fruits, especially lemons.
Group of people on the balcony and ground floor of the American Hotel in Old Town, 1886View of horse-drawn Wellington coal wagons in the Pacific Wood and Coal Company at Union and F Street, 1885Old mission bells near several buildings in San Diego, 1886San Diego Bay, showing a wharf extending into the harbor, ships anchored beyond, and the promontory of Point Loma in the distance, 1887.San Diego, 1886.San Diego from the corner of 6th and Ash Streets, showing a Victorian-style house, other houses, commercial buildings, and sailing ships, 1885.
The Boom Turns to Bust
The rapid growth of the early 1880s couldn’t last forever. The real estate bubble eventually burst. Land prices, which had been artificially high, plummeted. Many people lost their investments.
The economic downturn hit San Diego hard. Businesses closed, and unemployment rose. The population growth slowed dramatically. The boom years were over.
Several factors contributed to the bust. The real estate speculation was unsustainable. The national economy also experienced a downturn. Competition from other California cities, like Los Angeles, also played a role.
The end of the decade was a period of adjustment. San Diego had to adapt to a slower pace of growth. The city was still much larger and more developed than it had been before the railroad. The seeds of a lasting recovery had been planted.
View of the ruins of the Mission San Diego, 1880View overlooking San Diego, showing commercial buildings in the foreground, residences and the bay in the distance, 1880.San Diego’s first streetcar, 1886Employees of the Equitable Life Insurance Company standing outside their office at 1318 D Street, 1885San Diego Mission from the front, left side, showing the back of the main building in ruin, and walls extending, 1885.
Daily Life in a Changing City
Life in San Diego during the 1880s became more modern. People had access to more goods and services. The pace of life was faster than it had been in previous decades.
Entertainment options expanded. Theaters offered plays, concerts, and vaudeville shows. Parks and beaches provided recreation. Social clubs and organizations flourished. Sports, like baseball, became increasingly popular.
Education continued to improve. More schools were built, and attendance increased. The city’s first public library opened, providing access to books and information.
Newspapers played a vital role in keeping people informed. Several newspapers competed for readers, providing news, opinion, and advertising. They chronicled the boom and the bust, providing a record of the decade’s events.
Transportation improved greatly. While the first transcontinental connection was the big news, local travel was easier too. The streetcar lines made getting around downtown much more convenient.
View overlooking town square and Horton House, Shows a two-story hotel in background, a crowd of people in plaza, 1880.Point Loma from Coronado Beach, San Diego, 1888View of an Arc Light and Fifth Avenue in 1886View of San Diego with open space in the foreground, scattered houses with low fences surrounding them, and dirt streets, 1885.Exterior of Russ High School, 1882Former Estudillo Adobe in Old Town, showing peeling plaster exterior exposing adobe bricks, and a heavy tile roof, San Diego, 1885.Elevated view of San Diego showing houses, unpaved streets, commercial buildings, masted sailing ships in the harbor, and Coronado, 1885.City Water Front at Babcock and Story Wharf, 1887Overlooking San Diego and bay, streets, residences, commercial buildings, ships docked in the bay, and Coronado, 1880.Estudillo Adobe in Old Town, San Diego, 1880.View of Old Town looking northwest from the cemetery, 1885Panoramic view of San Diego, 1887Kuhn Building at Fourth and D (now Broadway) in 1887Mission San Diego de Alcala, California. Interior of old town chapel, 1889Mission San Diego Alcala, 1886Mission San Diego Alcala, 1888Exterior view of the Grand Hotel at 332 F Street, 1885Exterior view of the ruins of the Mission San Diego, 1880Elevated view of 5th Street, San Diego, 1886.Sandstone rock formation on La Jolla beach, 1889.Chapel and graveyard. A frame building with bells hanging on a framework near the building, 1885.National Bank at Fifth and C in 1887Russ Public School, Origination of San Diego High School, 1888Trestle supporting a San Diego flume that brought water to the city, 1888A family posing at the entrance gate of a picket fence, with a man in a top hat, a girl, woman, and boy, 1883.Estudillo adobe, known as Ramona’s wedding place, Old Town San Diego, 1888San Diego Pacific Coast Steamship landing, foot of Broadway, 1886Barbecued meat on a table, with men in aprons at left and a crowd gathered around the table, 1880.San Diego, 1887Panoramic view of San Diego showing Ash Street & 8th Avenue, 1887St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in 1887 at Eighth and C StreetsView of Presidio Hill from Linda Vista, 1888Exterior view of the rear of the Mission San Diego, 1880View looking north of Fifth and Island Streets, 1887Mission San Diego, 1880Teams of horses pulling wagons filled with redwood lumber for the Cuyamaca flume, 1885San Diego, 1887First National Bank at the northwest corner of Fifth and E Street, 1888San Diego’s first streetcar, 1886Real Estate Parade (?) during the Boom Days, San Diego, November 18, 1885Man in a two-horse buggy outside the Diamond Carriage & Livery Company at the southwest corner of Second and Broadway, 1889Downtown San Diego looking northwest toward Point Loma, 1888Riding the San Diego Flume on its Opening Day in 1889Old Town, San Diego, showing a church with two bells hanging on a wood frame, an open dirt area, and buildings, 1885.
A More Diverse Population
San Diego’s population became even more diverse during the 1880s. The railroad brought people from all over the United States and the world. This influx of new residents added to the city’s cultural mix.
The Chinese community, which had established itself in the 1870s, continued to grow. Chinese immigrants played an important role in the city’s economy, working in various businesses and industries. They continued to face discrimination, but persisted.
Immigrants from Europe, including Italians, Germans, and Scandinavians, also arrived in significant numbers. They brought their own traditions and skills, contributing to the city’s development.
The African American population, though small, also grew during this period. They established churches and businesses, creating a community within the larger city. They, too, faced the challenges of discrimination.
The Kumeyaay, the native inhabitants of the region, continued to live in the area. They faced ongoing challenges as their traditional lands were further encroached upon. They worked to preserve their culture and way of life.
Fifth Avenue between D and E Streets, 1887The Reinbold family outside their home at 1440 Ninth Avenue, 1898Two men, identified as W.C. Dickinson and Frank A. Kimball, posing next to a bronze plaque on Sweetwater Dam, 1888.Exterior of the Model Bath house at the foot of Sixth Street, later Sixth Avenue, 1883View of the Arthur Cosgrove Building on the southeast corner of Fourth and Broadway, 1887Old Mission San Diego de Alcala, three men in top hats posing next to a crumbling adobe wall, 1888.Group of people gathered outside Horton Hall at Sixth and F Street, 1882The foot of Fifth Street; showing Pacific Coast Steamship Company frame building and wharf, with railroad tracks, and horse-drawn street railroad, San Diego, 1887.Elevated of various shaped homes on early streets of San Diego, with the bay in the distance, 1880.Broad of deteriorating adobe-walled San Diego Mission church in a barren landscape, with a fenced gravesite marker, 1880.Water and mist in tidal rock formations, La Jolla, 1880.Rocky spit projecting into the ocean along the coastline with eroded arc, caves, tidal waters, La Jolla, 1880.Coastal cave formed from pounding ocean waves, La Jolla, 1880.Shoreline of a cove and rocky prominence, La Jolla, 1880.Horton House in San Diego, 1880.Wave-sculpted cliffs along coastal waters, La Jolla, 1880.Elevated view of San Diego, from the Horton House, 1880.Through an opening in a cave along the coastal shore, La Jolla, 1880.Water and mist in tidal rock formations, La Jolla, 1880.Pacific Coast Steamship Company wharf, San Diego, 1882.Bluffs carved by ocean waves, La Jolla, 1880.Street view in San Diego, 1880s.Cove and rocky prominences, La Jolla, 1880.Surging ocean on the rocky coast of La Jolla, 1880.Mission building in the background, a walled garden with a windmill, and a well, 1880s.Elevated view of San Diego, from the Horton House, 1880.Two-story farm house behind a young orchard; McRea’s Ranch, 12 miles east of San Diego, 1880.Old mission bells in San Diego, 1880Old Palms of Old Town San Diego at the San Diego Mission, 1888Twin Palms of Old Town San Diego, 1888Morse-Pierce Building at Sixth and F in 1887
Image Credits: Sandiego.gov, Calisphere, Wikimedia, California State Library, Online Archive of California,
