Architecture

City of San Diego Historical Resources

The City of San Diego Planning Department: Community plans listed by neighborhood.

Friends of San Diego Iconic Architecture Digital Image Gallery: Photos of significant modern and historical architecture around the city. 

San Diego Digital Archives: The Archives Center is a central source of information and materials regarding the history and development of the City San Diego.

City of San Diego California Historical Resources Inventory Database: Promotes and protects cultural heritage through documenting and sharing information on historical resources.

San Diego History Center: Access the region’s largest collection of historical materials, covering hundreds of years of San Diego history.

San Diego Maps: Access old maps of various San Diego regions. 

San Diego Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO): Nonprofit organization focused on preservation of historical sites in San Diego since 1969.

San Diego’s Landscape Legacy: The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s look at San Diego from early colonization to contemporary city planning.

San Diego Historic Sites Trolley Tours

San Diego Seven Bridges Walk: Loop trail that begins in Balboa Park

Balboa Park Official Website
 

Resources By Neighborhood

Barrio Logan
Barrio Logan Community Plan Update
Logan Heights, San Diego History Center
A Turning Point: History and significance of Logan Heights’ Chicano Park.
Chicano Park and Its Wondrous Murals  

Chinatown
A Closer Look at SD’s Chinatown: Discusses Chinatown’s role in the history of downtown
Asian Pacific Historic District Virtual Walking Tour

East Village
Downtown Community Planning Council
San Diego’s Historic Warehouse District: SOHO’s guide to preserving East Village
East Village, Ladies Who Paint: Explores the East Village “mural walk”
How East Village Became “The Homeless Ghetto”: KPBS segment outlines the history of city planning around San Diego’s East Village

Gaslamp Quarter
Downtown Community Planning Council
Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation
Gaslamp History Talks: Monthly lecture video series on the Gaslamp Quarter and San Diego general history
Davis Horton House – Gaslamp Museum: SOHO article on the oldest standing structure in Downtown San Diego
Historic Gaslamp District: The Cultural Landscape Foundation offers a quick history of Gaslamp

Hillcrest
Hillcrest Community Planning
Hillcrest History Guild: Links to numerous articles, timelines, photos and more about the development of Hillcrest.
Hillquest Urban Walks: Walking guide of notable buildings in Hillcrest. Check out the rest of the website for other community resources and guides.

La Jolla
La Jolla Community Planning Association
La Jolla Historical Society: National Register of Historic Places in La Jolla, as well as timelines and information about preservation
Village Memories: A Photo Essay on La Jolla’s Past from the San Diego History Center

Little Italy
Downtown Community Planning Council
Little Italy Association: Devoted to the various piazzas, parks, and landmarks in Little Italy   
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: History of Little Italy
Thinking Small in San Diego's Little Italy Enclave: NYT article highlighting the group of architect-developers who redeveloped an entire block of Little Italy

North Park
North Park Community Planning
North Park Historical Society: on a mission to  preserve North Park’s architectural and cultural history through research, education, and outreach
North Park, San Diego: The Rewards of Walkability: NYT article about the revitalization of North Park

Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach Community Planning Board
Ocean Beach Historical Society: OBHS Archives collection includes photos, articles, historical items and more
Effort to Save Ocean Beach Architecture of Nati’s Buildings at Historic
Resources Board: OB Rag, online publication devoted to preserving the culture and heritage of Ocean Beach

Old Town
Old Town Community Planning Group
Old Town San Diego: History and Heritage
Guide to Old Town’s Historical Sites

Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach Current Community Plan
Pacific Beach History and Timeline: 1887- present
The First 20 Years: A brief history of Pacific Beach (1887-1907): Article from PB Monthly

University Heights
University Heights Community Association
University Heights Historical Society
University Heights Community Development Corporation

A good source for information on San Diego architects is San Diego Architect: a publication of the San Diego Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, located in the periodical shelves. You can also search the library catalog for specific local architects and firms. 

More Local Resources