I recently walked through Bankers Hill, a historic neighborhood just north of downtown San Diego. During my small adventure I got a few interesting photos on and around Olive Street. Like the sights in any city, they form a mixture. Here’s a flavor of Olive in the San Diego cocktail!
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The historic Marston House is nestled among some trees in the seldom-visited northwest corner of Balboa Park. The house museum and its beautiful gardens are truly one of San Diego’s hidden gems.
I strolled about the grounds recently and took a few photos. Roaming about the gardens is free; to take a guided tour of the house’s interior one must pay a small entrance fee.
The house, in the Arts and Crafts architectural style, was built in 1905 by George W. Marston, a wealthy philanthropist who owned a prominent department store. He was also founder of the San Diego Historical Society, and was instrumental in preserving the site of the original San Diego Presidio.
The Marston House was designed by the internationally famous architects William Sterling Hebbard and Irving Gill. Its five acres of lawns and formal gardens have become a very popular wedding location.
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Lovers of architecture, Victorian houses and San Diego history should swing by Heritage Park, a small county park located next to Old Town.
Several historic homes representing Italianate, Stick-Eastlake, Queen Anne and Classic Revival styles were relocated to this eight acre park by the Save Our Heritage Organisation. Only the exteriors of the structures have been restored, with the exception of the Burton House and Senlis Cottage, which are open to the public.
John Sherman, cousin of General William Tecumseh Sherman, built the Stick-Eastlake style Sherman-Gilbert House in 1887. Over the years, many world-famous entertainers appeared at receptions in this house, including ballet dancer Anna Pavlova and pianist Artur Rubinstein. This was the first structure moved to Heritage Park, in 1971.
Edward Wilkerson Bushyhead, a Cherokee Indian with a Scottish ancestor, was an important historical figure in San Diego. He served as Chief of Police years after being publisher of the San Diego Union newspaper. He built the Bushyhead House as a rental in 1887.
The Christian House is a colorful Queen Anne style house built in 1889.
This 1889 Classic Revival building constructed by the Congregation Beth Israel was also used by several religious sects before it was finally relocated to Heritage Park.
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Here are several pics of the very cool Britt-Scripps House in Bankers Hill, a neighborhood just north of downtown San Diego. The large townhouse, a great example of the Victorian Queen Anne style, is reputed to have been designed by Stanford White, the architect of New York’s second Madison Square Garden.
Completed in 1888 by prominent lawyer Eugene Britt, the magnificent house was purchased in 1896 by newspaper publisher E.W. Scripps, half-brother of Ellen Browning Scripps, the famous La Jolla philanthropist. After 1907 it was used as a guesthouse and second residence to supplement the newly-built Scripps ranch in Miramar. The lavish exterior includes a high conical tower and three elegant brick chimneys.
Until recently the house served as a Bed and Breakfast. In the above photo you can spot one of the most interesting features: an amazing two story stained glass window.
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I live very close to the historic Ginty House on Cortez Hill. I noticed today they’ve put holiday red, white and blue bunting on their porch rails, to celebrate Labor Day.
The beautiful old Victorian house, in the Stick Eastlake style, was built in 1886 by businessman John Ginty at the very highest point on affluent Cortez Hill. In 1999 the house was saved from demolition and moved to its present location. Registered as an official Historical Landmark, it was recently named one of the top ten “Dream Homes” by San Diego Magazine.
Cool features include the “Fairhead Stone” horse carriage step jutting up beside the sidewalk, a four-way fireplace, and a two-car garage with a hydraulic lift!
UPDATE! I took this pic on Memorial Day 2014…
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Cool San Diego Sights! 