1850
William Health Davis begins developing land. Pre-framed lumber "salt-box" house were shipped from East, but did not attract settlers and with 1851 depression, the town declined.

1867
Alonzo Horton arrives. He decides the best place for a city is by the waterfront, where Davis has failed. Horton purchases 800 acres of land for 33 cents an acre.

1869
Horton spends $50,000 to build a wharf. On March 24, Horton sells $5,500 worth of commercial and residential lots in one day. His new town begins to boom.

1870
After building Horton Hall, the first public theatre, Horton opens the town's first bank and of course, names himself the bank president.

1875
Ah Quin arrives. Because of his diplomacy and mastery of English, Ah Quin quickly finds work as a labor contractor for Railroad.

1880s
Prosperity attracts prostitutes and gamblers, including Wyatt Earp.

1888
San Diego's real estate boom ends. The population drops from 40,000 to 16,000.

1909
Horton loses his properties to taxes and foreclosure. On his 95th birthday, he says "It's the most beautiful place in the world to me and I had rather have the affection and friendly greetings of San Diegans than all the rulers in the world".

1912
Influenced by wave of citizen morality, police arrest 138 prostitutes, who leave the city. With the red lights of Stingaree turned off, San Diego becomes unpopular as liberty port.

1914-20
Chinese Benevolent Society is Founded to protect the Chinese. Ah Quin dies.

1927
New Chinese Mission is dedicated by civic leader George Marston and continues as the cultural center till 1960.

Gaslamp
Back in 1867, Alonzo Horton had a vision. He wanted to build Thriving port city on undeveloped land, facing San Diego's Bay. Horton bought this land for just 33 cents an acre! Here, in the Gaslamp Quarter, one will find some of the best Victorian style commercial buildings constructed during 50 years, between Civil War and World War I.

When businesses moved North to newer neighborhoods, Gaslamp became San Diego's infamous "red light" district, which flourished until outlawed in 1912.Business has always been the economic heartbeat of Quarter. This is where Ship's chandlers outfitted tall misted clippers on their last stop before rounding the Horn.

Local Chinese merchants sold everything, from rare oriental delicacies to rhinoceros horn love powders. In its early heyday, nearly all of San Diego's licensed saloons were here. By 1887, Wyatt Earp moved in to operate 3 gambling halls and referee local boxing matches.