The 1890s in San Diego city were a period of rebuilding and redefining. After the boom and bust of the 1880s, the city had to find its footing. The decade saw a focus on infrastructure, civic improvements, and attracting new industries. It wasn’t as flashy as the previous decade, but it was crucial for San Diego’s long-term development.
Interior of the Meadows Jewelry store at 1216 F Street 1895Downtown San Diego looking west from 18th and Market Street 1895Villa Montezuma at 1925 K Street 1892People standing outside Blochman’s New Store at 620-622 Fifth Avenue 1892Cavalry soldiers crossing railroad tracks 1893Exterior of Jim Lee’s Laundry in downtown San Diego 1895Dodge & Brubeck’s Bookstore in the Brunswick Hotel at the northeast corner of Fifth and D Street 1893Independent Order of Oddfellows hall at Sixth and Market Street 1892People and merchandise outside the Hamilton & Company store 1893Street view of a parade going south on Fifth Avenue, below E Street 1892Four men standing in front of a San Diego Soda Works delivery wagon at the San Diego Soda Works 1898
Building a City: Infrastructure and Civic Improvements
The 1890s saw a focus on improving the city’s infrastructure. After the rapid, often haphazard growth of the 1880s, there was a need to create a more organized and functional city.
Street paving became more widespread. Many of the dirt roads that were common in earlier decades were paved with brick or asphalt. This made travel easier and reduced dust, a major problem in dry weather. Sewer systems were expanded. This improved sanitation and public health. It was a major step forward in creating a more modern city.
The city’s first public library building was constructed. This provided a dedicated space for books and learning, a significant cultural advancement. Andrew Carnegie provided the funds, being the benefactor. A new City Hall was built. This gave the city government a more permanent and impressive home. It reflected the growing civic pride of San Diego.
San Diego from Sixth and E Street looking north 1892View of horse-drawn Wellington coal wagons in the Pacific Wood and Coal Company at Union and F Street 1890Exterior view of a Synagogue at the northwest corner of Second and Beech Street 1892First National Bank located at 867 Fifth Street 1892Employees of the Equitable Life Insurance Company standing outside their office at 1318 D Street 1885
The Rise of Tourism and Recreation
San Diego began to promote itself as a tourist destination in the 1890s. The mild climate, beautiful scenery, and beaches were major attractions. The Hotel del Coronado, built in the 1880s, continued to be a major draw.
Balboa Park, then called City Park, began to take shape. While it wouldn’t become the major urban park it is today until later, the 1890s saw the beginnings of its development. Land was set aside, and some initial landscaping was done.
Parks in general became more important. People recognized the value of having green spaces for recreation and relaxation. Smaller parks and plazas were developed throughout the city.
Bicycling became a popular pastime. The invention of the “safety bicycle,” with two wheels of the same size, made cycling safer and more accessible. Bike paths were even built in some areas.
People seated on a double decker San Diego Electric Railway streetcar at Fifth and Market Street 1892Horse-drawn carts outside the M.F. Heller grocery store at Eleventh and F Street 1892A horse-drawn lumber wagon and construction workers at a house under construction on Evans Street 1895Exterior view of the Grand Hotel at 332 F Street 1892Casa de Machado y Silvas and the ruins of the Wrightington House in Old Town 1895Parade for President Benjamin Harrison passing the County Courthouse 1891Farm workers harvesting wheat near a horse powered threshing machine 1895
Economic Diversification
After the real estate bust of the late 1880s, San Diego’s economy needed to diversify. Relying solely on real estate speculation was clearly not sustainable. The city looked for new industries.
Agriculture continued to be important. Citrus fruits, especially lemons, were a major crop. San Diego County became known for its lemon groves. Olives and other fruits were also grown.
Fishing became a more significant industry. The harbor provided access to rich fishing grounds. Canning factories were established, processing and exporting fish.
Tourism, as mentioned, was actively promoted. The city tried to attract visitors from other parts of the country and the world. This brought in money and helped to support local businesses.
The U.S. Navy began to establish a presence in San Diego. This would eventually become a major part of the city’s economy, but the beginnings were in the 1890s. The Navy saw the strategic value of San Diego’s harbor.
A man seated in a horse-drawn Bay City Market delivery wagon at the northwest corner of Fifth and G Street 1895A stagecoach under the veranda in the patio of Estudillo Adobe, with Aloe vera plants, San Diego, 1890.First National Bank at the northwest corner of Fifth and E Street 1893Man in a two-horse buggy outside the Diamond Carriage & Livery Company at the southwest corner of Second and Broadway 1895
Famous Places and Landmarks
Several landmarks that are still recognizable today were either built or gained prominence in the 1890s. These places helped to define the character of the city.
The Hotel del Coronado, as mentioned, was a major landmark. Its distinctive architecture and luxurious amenities made it a symbol of San Diego. It attracted wealthy guests and helped to put San Diego on the map.
The Spreckels Building, built by sugar magnate John D. Spreckels, was another important structure. It housed offices and businesses and was a symbol of the city’s growing commercial strength.
The Louis Bank of Commerce building was constructed. This building is in the Romanesque Revival architectural style.
Villa Montezuma, a unique and elaborate Victorian mansion, was built for musician and author Jesse Shepard. It became known for its stained glass, intricate woodwork, and alleged hauntings. It’s a striking example of Victorian architecture.
Group of men in uniform standing in a row before a Knights of Pythias parade float 1895Group of women outside the Kings Daughters Boarding Club at 1054 Third Street 1896San Diego looking northwest from Seventh and Beech Street 1897San Diego County Courthouse 1895View of the Hotel Brewster lobby at Fourth and C Street 1890The Reinbold family outside their home at 1440 Ninth Avenue 1894Grand Army of the Republic parade going east on Broadway past Horton House on the first anniversary of Dewey Day 1899Large group gathered at the Santa Fe Depot to watch the departure of Company B 1898A small double decker streetcar on Fifth and C Street 1896Railroad tracks leading to the San Diego Brewery 1897Three men playing tennis at the home of John Kendall 1892Exterior of the Model Bath house at the foot of Sixth Street, later Sixth Avenue 1893Union Building at Third Street and Broadway 1896Old Town Cemetery ruins, San Diego, 1898Villa Montezuma at 1925 K Street 1895View of farm land near Old Town from Presidio Hill looking west 1895Alonzo E. Horton in a horse-drawn buggy near the Bay View Hotel 1895Ramona’s marriage place, San Diego, 1898Alligator Head, La Jolla, 1898View of small houses along a dirt road in San Diego, 1890sStreet looking west from Eighth Street in San Diego, 1895Exterior view of a San Diego residence, possibly the Murtha (or Mertha Residence), ca.1890
Daily Life
Life in San Diego in the 1890s was less hectic than during the boom years of the 1880s. The pace of life was more settled, and the city was more established.
People continued to work in a variety of occupations. Businesses, agriculture, fishing, and the growing tourism industry provided jobs. The Navy also began to provide employment opportunities.
Homes were becoming more comfortable. Electricity and indoor plumbing were becoming more common, although they were still not universal. Victorian-style homes remained popular.
Social life revolved around churches, clubs, and community events. There were fewer of the wild excesses of the boom years. The city was becoming more respectable.
Education continued to be a priority. Schools were improved, and more children had access to education. The city’s commitment to education was a sign of its long-term vision.
People on the porch of a small home in San Diego, 1890sThe exterior of the Yuma Building at 631 Fifth Street, between G Street and Market Street 1891Girl on a hill near houses in San Diego, 1890sSan Diego Cable Railway cable car, 1892Activity in the street in front of Horton House in San Diego, 1898Waves at La Jolla Park beach, 1890.The monitor, “U.S.S. Monterey,” in San Diego Harbor, showing the starboard side with two small boats next to the ship, 1898.Eroded sandstone cliffs with caves, from the water, La Jolla, 1890.San Diego Bay and city from Coronado Ferry Slip, 1890s.The Charleston and Ilata anchored in San Diego Bay, 1891.The “Dummy” line (?), a San Diego and Pacific Beach railroad car, ca.1890Adobe building with peeling whitewash; Father Gaspara’s House at Old Town, San Diego, 1890.Mission San Diego de Alcala, California, 1891Mission Valley from Mission Cliffs Pavilion, showing the San Diego River and mountains, 1891.Street scene in San Diego, 1892.Elevated view of a town, showing houses, fields, windmills, dirt streets, commercial buildings, a harbor, and a promontory, 1890.San Diego Electric Railway double-deck electric streetcar, with three passengers on top and eight men posing at the lower level, 1898.Skinner & Long furniture store, Sixth and H Streets, San Diego; with people posing in front and furniture displayed, 1892.Residence of U.S. Grant, Jr., a three-story Queen Anne style mansion with Craftsman influences, 1893.Interior of Old Town Mission, showing pews, altar, statues, and paintings, 1890.Interior of the church where Ramona was married, showing the altar with a three-tiered backdrop, 1890.Ballast Point, San Diego, 1890s.Roseville on San Diego Bay, 1890Dilapidated mission buildings. Showing a bell on the roof, 1890.Panorama of San Diego taken from the roof of the courthouse, 1890Bath House in San Diego, 1890s.Estudillo Adobe in Old Town, showing the exterior and peeling white-washed siding , San Diego, 1890.James A. Heath Ship Chandlery store, with three men on the sidewalk and spools of rope, San Diego, 1898.Elevated view of date palms with worn adobe fences; clapboard house and shed, 1890.Rooftop view of houses, unpaved city streets, a harbor with a pier, an island, and a promontory beyond, San Diego, 1895.Aerial view of San Diego, looking over downtown towards the bay, with two Victorian houses in the foreground, 1895.Seven table displays of oranges representing San Diego, with a model ship, 1891.Elevated of Fifth Street, business section with Italianate-style buildings, utility poles, horse-drawn carts, and pedestrians, San Diego, 1890.Dilapidated mission buildings on a bluff with olive trees visible, 1890.Chinese fishing junks in San Diego Bay, buildings along the waterfront, 1890.Ocean Beach in San Diego, crowded with people, restaurants and buildings lining the shore, with Wonderland Amusement Park in the distance, 1890s.San Diego County courthouse, originally built in 1872, was rebuilt in 1890, with a motorcycle in the foreground,1921.Angle view of the former Estudillo Adobe with a plaster finish remaining only on the upper part of building, 1892.Alligator’s Head. Eroded sandstone bluff and archway. Ocean washing over rocks, La Jolla, 1890.Interior suite of rooms in Hotel Brewster, showing furniture and decor, 1890.Unearthed stones during excavations of the Presidio in San Diego, 1895View of the entrance to the Mission San Diego Alcala chapel, 1898Streetcar – 5th Street Line, 1890sOffice lobby of Hotel Brewster, corner 4th and C Streets; showing decor and people, 1890.Estudillo Hacienda adobe and Ramona’s wedding place, San Diego, 1890An Unidentified Victorian house with an Ogee style gate in the garden entrance, San Diego, 1890.Mission San Diego Alcala, shown from the rear quadrangle, 1898Mission San Diego Alcala, 1892Panorama of San Diego taken from the roof of the courthouse, 1890Elevated view of San Diego looking towards the bay, with one- and two-story wood buildings, ships in the bay, 1890.L.N. Skinner furniture store located on the southwest corner 6th & Market; showing a one-story brick building, with furniture along the sidewalk, San Diego, 1890.Panorama of San Diego taken from the roof of the courthouse, 1890Noyo”, a two-masted steam schooner, with men in the bow and stern, with San Diego in the distance, 1890.James A. Heath, Ship Chandlery, 624 5th Street, showing three men posed on the sidewalk in front of the store, 1893.The passenger ship “Queen of the Pacific” docked at San Diego, passengers standing along the decks and wharf, with baggages and lifeboats, 1890.Estudillo Adobe; overlooking the garden, showing a U-shaped adobe building with a tiled roof, San Diego, 1890.
Water, Water Everywhere (Almost): The Struggle for a Reliable Supply
Water was a constant concern in San Diego’s arid climate. The 1890s saw major efforts to secure a reliable water supply. This was essential for the city’s growth and for agriculture in the surrounding areas.
The San Diego Flume Company completed a major project in 1889, just before the decade began. But its impact was felt strongly in the 1890’s. This flume, a system of wooden troughs and canals, brought water from the Cuyamaca Mountains to the city. It was an engineering marvel of its time.
The flume was a wooden structure. It snaked its way through canyons and over hills. It provided a much-needed source of water, but it was also vulnerable to damage from weather and fires. Maintaining it was a constant challenge.
Several reservoirs were built or expanded during the 1890s. These reservoirs stored water, helping to ensure a steady supply even during dry periods. These included Lower Otay Reservoir and Sweetwater Dam.
Sweetwater Dam, completed in 1888, was particularly important. It created a large reservoir, supplying water to National City and Chula Vista, as well as to parts of San Diego. It was a key piece of infrastructure for the growing region.
The face of Sweetwater Dam, showing the lake and hills behind it, with a group of men on the roadway, 1890.The ruins of the San Diego Mission; no roof on the main building, only the front facade, 1890s.Exterior view of the Hotel at Ocean Beach in San Diego, ca.1890Ruin of the Estudillo Adobe, San Diego, 1897Simpson-Pirnie Granite Company, at 821 D Street, San Diego, two men posing in a fenced yard displaying stone tombstones, 1899.Veteran Firemen at San Diego County Courthouse in 1894Four sailors standing on rigging on the bow of the Ranger survey ship, San Diego, 1890.Sailing ship at dockside in San Diego; with stacked lumber on rail cars on dock, men and workers, 1890.Twin palm trees, Roller Processing Flour Mills, San Diego, 1894.Three men stand on deck of sailing ship; three men standing on riggings of masts, 1890.First National Bank in San Diego, 1890s.Three people posing for a picture in front of an old building in San Diego, 1890sPalm trees growing in Old San Diego, with a picket fence and a wooden shed, 1890.
Image Credits: sandiego.gov, library of congress, calisphere.org, wikimedia, California State Library
