Horton Grand Hotel, historic building in San Diego, California, U.S
The Horton Grand Hotel is a historic hotel in downtown San Diego made up of two restored buildings from the 1880s. The structure features Renaissance Revival architecture with tall windows, ornate brickwork, and classical details inspired by European design.
The hotel was built in 1887 by a German named Peter Mayerhofer, designed to resemble a Vienna hotel. In the 1970s both connected buildings were dismantled to prevent demolition, then carefully rebuilt brick by brick and reassembled at the current location in 1986.
The hotel is named after Alonzo Horton, an early developer of San Diego. It reflects how pioneers saw the city as a place worthy of fine architecture and European elegance, showing what travelers valued during that era.
The hotel sits in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter with easy walking access to downtown shops, restaurants, and attractions. The area sees steady pedestrian foot traffic, especially near nearby bars and museums, so early mornings or later evenings work best for quieter exploration.
The hotel is actually two original buildings from different locations that were moved and joined together at the current site. Preservationist Dan Pearson oversaw the meticulous rebuilding process using original materials like antique doors, hand-carved oak staircases, and period details found during the restoration.
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