Alonzo Horton bought downtown San Diego for $265
Alonzo Horton arrived in 1867, bought about 800 acres by the bay at auction and built the New Town that became downtown San Diego.
profiles
Kate Sessions planted Balboa Park, one tree at a time
Horticulturist Kate Sessions leased land in City Park in 1892 in exchange for planting trees. She is remembered as the mother of Balboa Park.
Ellen Browning Scripps gave La Jolla its institutions
Newspaper fortune heiress Ellen Browning Scripps funded the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Scripps hospital, Torrey Pines and much of La Jolla.
Dr. Seuss wrote his best-known books in a La Jolla tower
Theodor Geisel moved to La Jolla in 1948 and wrote The Cat in the Hat and other classics there. UC San Diego’s library carries his name.
Tony Gwynn, Mr. Padre, and the art of hitting
Tony Gwynn spent his entire 20-year career with the Padres, won eight batting titles and later coached at San Diego State.
Ted Williams learned to hit on the playgrounds of North Park
Ted Williams was born in San Diego in 1918, starred at Hoover High and played for the Pacific Coast League Padres before Boston.
John D. Spreckels owned much of San Diego and built a railroad to Arizona
Sugar heir John D. Spreckels owned the Hotel del Coronado, the streetcars and two newspapers, and built the San Diego and Arizona Railway.