Grand-Horton Hotel
historic place
The Grand-Horton Hotel, a historic place in San Diego, California, was originally built in 1886. This Italianate Victorian structure was designed by architects Comstock and Trotsche, drawing inspiration from the Innsbruck Hotel in Austria. The hotel opened during a period of significant growth for San Diego, following the 1885 arrival of the transcontinental railroad. It became a civic hub, hosting figures like President Benjamin Harrison and King Kalakaua of Hawaii. In the 1970s, the Grand-Horton faced demolition for the Horton Plaza development. The City of San Diego acquired the property, and the hotel was meticulously disassembled, brick by brick, with each piece stored. In 1986, it was rebuilt at its current location on Fourth Street and Island Avenue, becoming part of the Horton Grand Hotel. This reconstruction also incorporated the Kahle Saddlery, another historic building. The Horton Grand Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This location represents a significant effort to preserve San Diego's Victorian architectural history.