DISCOVER MARINA

A self-guided tour of points of interest and hidden treasures in the Marina neighborhood of Downtown San Diego.

In Partnership with Circulate San Diego

San Diego Chinese Historical Museum

The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum sits in the Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District, which honors old “Chinatown,” the “Nihonmachi” Japantown at 5th and Island, and the “Filipino Quarter.” These communities thrived in this area from the 1860s to the 1940s.

Horton Grand Hotel + The Hauntings

The Horton Grand Hotel – on the edge of Downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter – is the oldest hotel in San Diego (hortongrand.com/history). This historic hotel has a rich past filled with glamour and intrigue. Originally two buildings, the Horton Grand Hotel was reconstructed in the 1970s when it and another building, the Brooklyn-Kahle Saddlery Hotel, were slated to be demolished during a city redevelopment. Historians fought to save the hotels and won, resulting in both buildings being dismantled brick by brick and later rebuilt into one glorious hotel. But there is another side to this elegant hotel that sparks the interest of paranormal enthusiasts all over the world. Guests report sightings of people dressed in 19th Century garb floating down the staircase and the flickering of many lights throughout the hotel. Stay a night to discover for yourself or learn more here.

Kansas City Barbeque

Kansas City Barbecue is a local fixture serving amazing baby back ribs with the added distinction of being the bar where scenes from the movie Top Gun were filmed. While working in San Diego, the location director for Paramount Studios visited Kansas City Barbeque for a beer. He liked the atmosphere and brought the bar to the attention of the film director Tony Scott. The rest is movie history!

Warehouse District

In 1869, when Alonzo Horton was still trying to make his vision of moving Downtown San Diego from Old Town to New Town come true, one of the first things he did was build a new wharf at the end of Fifth Avenue. Consequently, New Town took off and his vision became reality as people flocked to the areas access to international shipping.

Statue of Benito Juárez at Pantoja Park

This bronze statue at Pantoja Park depicts Benito Juárez, who served five terms as the President of Mexico in the 1800s. The statue was a gift from the Mexican government in 1981. The statue, facing south towards Mexico, sits atop a granite base where you will find the inscription "Escultor Ernesto F. Tamariz" (escultor translates to sculptor). Juárez is standing, and holding a book, open towards the viewer, that reads CONSTITUCION 1857 and LEYES DE REFORMA (reform laws).

Pantoja Park

Originally built in 1850, Pantoja Park is the oldest park in the city of San Diego. The park is named for Don Juan Pantoja y Arriola, a Spanish navigator who drew the first map of San Diego Bay in 1782. In the park stands a statue of Benito Juarez, a gift from the Mexican government in 1981. Pantoja Park is a green oasis surrounded by Downtown San Diego skyline and features a large grassy area and multiple large, mature trees. The park has several towering old fig trees, shrubs and flowers, benches, walking paths, and a historic Natal Plum planted in the middle of the park. Two years after the formation of San Diego's Historical Resources Board, Pantoja Park was registered as the seventh San Diego Historic Landmark in 1969.

Martin Luther King, Jr Promenade

Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade, originally called Marina Linear Park, is a twelve-acre park designed for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy. The promenade was dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1992. Adjacent to the active Santa Fe Rail and San Diego Trolley corridor, the 0.6-mile-long linear park begins in the Gaslamp Quarter and extends north to the Marina neighborhood. The trail end points can be found at Tony Gwynn Drive and Park Boulevard at Petco Park and at West Market Street and West Harbor Drive. The path is lined with 30 plaques engraved with quotes from Dr. King. It is also dotted with outdoor sculptures including Breaking of the Chains by Melvin Edwards, “Shedding the Cloak” by Jerry Dumlao, Mary Lynn Dominguez and Tamara Dumlao and, “Dream” by Roberto Salas.

"Breaking of the Chains" Sculpture

“Breaking of the Chains” by Melvin Edwards was installed in 1995 and is a 25-foot by 20-foot by 15-foot polished stainless-steel sculpture.

"Shedding the Cloak" Sculpture

Located at the entrance to Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade at Market Street, “Shedding the Cloak” is a work of public art that glows bright gold from within, both day and night. Created in 2001 by Jerry Dumlao, Mary Lynn Dominguez and Tamara Dumlao, the sculpture represents a turning point in a person’s view of others. Dr. King hoped that all people would shed the cloak of hatred and suspicion and don the cloak of compassion. The park where the sculpture can be found includes a hedge maze and a few benches to sit and enjoy a moment of contemplation.

"Dream" Sculpture

“Dream” is an outdoor public artwork by Roberto Salas, installed in 2001 along the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade. It includes five bronze hand sculptures on individual pedestals, each forming a letter in American Sign Language spelling out D-R-E-A-M.

United States Bankruptcy Court

The old Federal Building and United States Courthouse came back to life on April 22, 1994, after extensive renovation. Now named the Jacob Weinberger United States Courthouse, the building is the home to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California.

Climb the Convention Center Stairs

Get your heart pounding with a safe workout on the Convention Center's grand staircase (that's 100 stairs!) by crossing the street at Fifth Avenue, making a right, and walking approximately 150 feet.

Tuna Harbor Dockside Market (Open Saturdays!)

The Tuna Harbor Dockside Market’s open-air seafood market is open on Saturdays from 8am until 1pm or until sold out. The public and chefs, will delight in purchasing fresh caught seafood direct from their local fishermen. Sustainable fishing practices, minimal carbon footprints, and local harvesters – Tuna Harbor Dockside Market benefits all.

The New Children's Museum

The Museum opened in La Jolla in 1983 as The Children’s Museum of San Diego. It moved in 1993 to a downtown warehouse to become the Children’s Museum/Museo de los Niños. The Museum reopened in 2008 as The New Children’s Museum, a dramatic, multi-level 50,000 square-foot building designed by visionary and award-winning architect Rob Wellington Quigley. The New Children’s Museum is a new model of children’s museum whose mission is to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking in children and families through inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art. With a variety of interactive installations and hands-on activities, there's always something new to discover! Plan your visit at thinkplaycreate.org.

Douglas Hotel

Located at Second Avenue and Market Street, the Douglas Hotel and Creole Palace nightclub was the only place of quality lodging and entertainment for Black people during a period of intense segregation. As the premier Black entertainment venue on the Pacific Coast, the spacious ballroom and stage featured a risqué chorus line show, and jazz, blues and boogie-woogie performances. The hotel nightclub hosted celebrities Joe Louis, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington. Learn more about the Douglas Hotel by visiting here.

San Diego Chinese Historical Museum

The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum sits in the Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District, which honors old “Chinatown,” the “Nihonmachi” Japantown at 5th and Island, and the “Filipino Quarter.” These communities thrived in this area from the 1860s to the 1940s.

The Museum’s permanent exhibition is housed in a 1920’s era mission-style building designed by Louis J. Gill, nephew and protégé of famed architect, Irving Gill. For 30 years the structure, originally located at 645 First Ave., housed the Chinese Community Church, where English language classes were held for new immigrants who often lived in adjacent dormitories.

By 1960, the Chinese community had relocated from Downtown San Diego and the congregation built a new facility on 47th Street. The adobe building fell into disuse and was slated for demolition in the 1980s until Sally Wong-Avery, Dorothy Hom, and City Councilman Tom Hom launched a campaign to rescue it. The Chinese Historical Society of Greater San Diego and Baja California was able to save the building and eventually relocate it to 404 Third Avenue. The building has been home to the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum since 1996.

In the 1930’s and 40’s the neighborhood was also known as the “Harlem of the West.” In 1924, William McClosky built the Douglas Hotel on the corner of Second Avenue and Market Street. The building included a restaurant, card room, billiard room, and a “nite club," later called the Creole Palace. During its heyday, the country’s top Black entertainers — Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, the Mills Brothers, the Inkspots, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie — performed at the Creole Palace and stayed at the Douglas Hotel.

Marina for Kids: Check out the bronze statue of the first Chinese Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, at 328 J St.

Take a walking tour of this area and learn more about its fascinating history at  sdchm.org/about 

Horton Grand Hotel + The Hauntings

The Horton Grand Hotel – on the edge of Downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter – is the oldest hotel in San Diego ( hortongrand.com/history ). This historic hotel has a rich past filled with glamour and intrigue. Originally two buildings, the Horton Grand Hotel was reconstructed in the 1970s when it and another building, the Brooklyn-Kahle Saddlery Hotel, were slated to be demolished during a city redevelopment. Historians fought to save the hotels and won, resulting in both buildings being dismantled brick by brick and later rebuilt into one glorious hotel. But there is another side to this elegant hotel that sparks the interest of paranormal enthusiasts all over the world. Guests report sightings of people dressed in 19th Century garb floating down the staircase and the flickering of many lights throughout the hotel. Stay a night to discover for yourself or learn more  here .

Marina for Kids: When you are in the Grand Hotel, you may want to avoid Room #309!

Kansas City Barbeque

Kansas City Barbecue is a local fixture serving amazing baby back ribs with the added distinction of being the bar where scenes from the movie Top Gun were filmed. While working in San Diego, the location director for Paramount Studios visited Kansas City Barbeque for a beer. He liked the atmosphere and brought the bar to the attention of the film director Tony Scott. The rest is movie history!

The bar was used in a scene in which Goose and Maverick belt out "Great Balls of Fire" while seated at the piano. The now famous line by Meg Ryan, "Goose, you big stuuuuuud! Take me to bed or lose me forever!" was uttered in the dining area of Kansas City Barbeque. The bar was also used in the final scene, where the song "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" is heard playing on the jukebox.

Marina for Kids: What is your favorite movie? Is there a line from a movie that you love to say out loud?

Warehouse District

In 1869, when Alonzo Horton was still trying to make his vision of moving Downtown San Diego from Old Town to New Town come true, one of the first things he did was build a new wharf at the end of Fifth Avenue. Consequently, New Town took off and his vision became reality as people flocked to the areas access to international shipping.

By 1913, the first commercial pier was built, the Broadway Pier, and just two years later San Diego hosted the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition, hoping to draw attention as the first Pacific U.S. port of call after passing through the new Panama Canal. Before long, the Marina neighborhood was full of factories and warehouses, including the Bishop & Co. Cracker & Candy Factory and the Citrus Soap Factory, which promised it “will not injure the most delicate fabric.” With some of the most expensive and glamorous real estate in San Diego today, you would never imagine its humble beginnings. Learn more  Here. 

Marina for Kids: See old Marina meet new Marina at the southwest corner of Union and Market, formerly the Citrus Soap Factory.

Statue of Benito Juárez at Pantoja Park

This bronze statue at Pantoja Park depicts Benito Juárez, who served five terms as the President of Mexico in the 1800s. The statue was a gift from the Mexican government in 1981. The statue, facing south towards Mexico, sits atop a granite base where you will find the inscription "Escultor Ernesto F. Tamariz" (escultor translates to sculptor). Juárez is standing, and holding a book, open towards the viewer, that reads CONSTITUCION 1857 and LEYES DE REFORMA (reform laws).

Benito Juárez was the first person of indigenous ethnicity to lead an American nation after its independence from European colonial rule. He served as President for most of the period from 1858 to his death in 1872, opposing the French-imposed rule of Emperor Maximilian from 1864 to 1867, and instituting liberal political and economic reforms.

When the Mexican government gifted this statue to San Diego, the U.S. government donated a statue of Abraham Lincoln, whose presidency was contemporary with Juárez's, to the city of Tijuana. The statue of Lincoln is located on Paseo De Las Heroes in Tijuana facing northwest, towards the statue of Juarez. It is known that Mexican president Benito Juárez enjoyed a friendly correspondence with Abraham Lincoln, who was opposed to the Mexican-American War. The bronze statue in Tijuana depicts Lincoln breaking chains of slavery.

Marina for Kids: Benito Juárez is facing south towards Mexico.

Pantoja Park

Originally built in 1850, Pantoja Park is the oldest park in the city of San Diego. The park is named for Don Juan Pantoja y Arriola, a Spanish navigator who drew the first map of San Diego Bay in 1782. In the park stands a statue of Benito Juarez, a gift from the Mexican government in 1981. Pantoja Park is a green oasis surrounded by Downtown San Diego skyline and features a large grassy area and multiple large, mature trees. The park has several towering old fig trees, shrubs and flowers, benches, walking paths, and a historic  Natal Plum  planted in the middle of the park. Two years after the formation of San Diego's Historical Resources Board, Pantoja Park was registered as the seventh  San Diego Historic Landmark  in 1969.

Marina for Kids: Can you find the Natal Plum tree? It’s over 100 years old!

Martin Luther King, Jr Promenade

Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade, originally called Marina Linear Park, is a twelve-acre park designed for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy. The promenade was dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1992. Adjacent to the active Santa Fe Rail and San Diego Trolley corridor, the 0.6-mile-long linear park begins in the Gaslamp Quarter and extends north to the Marina neighborhood. The trail end points can be found at Tony Gwynn Drive and Park Boulevard at Petco Park and at West Market Street and West Harbor Drive. The path is lined with 30 plaques engraved with quotes from Dr. King. It is also dotted with outdoor sculptures including Breaking of the Chains by Melvin Edwards, “Shedding the Cloak” by Jerry Dumlao, Mary Lynn Dominguez and Tamara Dumlao and, “Dream” by Roberto Salas.

Marina for Kids: The promenade is lined with 30 plaques engraved with the words of Dr. King.

"Breaking of the Chains" Sculpture

“Breaking of the Chains” by Melvin Edwards was installed in 1995 and is a 25-foot by 20-foot by 15-foot polished stainless-steel sculpture. 

The plaque for the statue reads:

"ALONG THE WAY OF LIFE, SOMEONE MUSTHAVE SENSE ENOUGH AND MORALITY ENOUGH TO CUT OFF THE CHAIN OF HATE. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE BY PROJECTING THE ETHIC OF LOVE TO THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Marina for Kids: The promenade is lined with 30 plaques engraved with the words of Dr. King.

"Shedding the Cloak" Sculpture

Located at the entrance to Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade at Market Street, “Shedding the Cloak” is a work of public art that glows bright gold from within, both day and night. Created in 2001 by Jerry Dumlao, Mary Lynn Dominguez and Tamara Dumlao, the sculpture represents a turning point in a person’s view of others. Dr. King hoped that all people would shed the cloak of hatred and suspicion and don the cloak of compassion. The park where the sculpture can be found includes a hedge maze and a few benches to sit and enjoy a moment of contemplation.

Marina for Kids: Meander through the hedge maze to get a closer look at the sculpture.

"Dream" Sculpture

“Dream” is an outdoor public artwork by Roberto Salas, installed in 2001 along the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade. It includes five bronze hand sculptures on individual pedestals, each forming a letter in American Sign Language spelling out D-R-E-A-M.

The work is one of several commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. along the promenade, including Melvin Edwards' "Breaking of the Chains" and “Shedding the Cloak” by Jerry and Tama Dumlao and Mary Lynn Dominguez.

Nearby is a ground plaque with Dr. King’s famous quote, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Marina for Kids: Can you spell D-R-E-A-M with your fingers, using American Sign Language?

United States Bankruptcy Court

The old Federal Building and United States Courthouse came back to life on April 22, 1994, after extensive renovation. Now named the Jacob Weinberger United States Courthouse, the building is the home to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California.

In 1906, Congress authorized construction of the first permanent federal building in San Diego, specifically designed to house the U.S. Post Office, the U.S. District Court, and U.S. Customs. It was commissioned on April 5, 1913 as the “U.S. Post Office and Custom House.” The architecture of the building is an eclectic design, blending "monumental classicism and Spanish colonial revival," creating a federal building that uniquely recognizes San Diego's Hispanic heritage.

In April of 1976, a new federal office building and courthouse was completed just northeast of the old building, leaving behind a deteriorating structure with a doubtful future. Fortunately, in 1975, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Therefore, destruction was not an option; however, the old courthouse sat lifeless for many years. Efforts to revive the building were spearheaded by Judge Richard Chambers and Judge John Rhoades, and in 1990 renovation began, utilizing original blueprints and old photographs as guides. On April 29, 1994, following four years of extensive renovation, the staff of the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California took residence in the magnificently restored, historic courthouse.

The building is open to the public from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays. Guided tours of this historical building are available by calling (619) 557-6428.

Marina for Kids: Two World War II era murals grace the building’s interior.

Climb the Convention Center Stairs

Get your heart pounding with a safe workout on the Convention Center's grand staircase (that's 100 stairs!) by crossing the street at Fifth Avenue, making a right, and walking approximately 150 feet.

Learn more about fun things to do along Downtown San Diego’s beautiful waterfront at  portofsandiego.org/wonderfront .

Marina for Kids: What do you call an elevator that doesn’t go straight up? Find the answer next to the staircase!

Tuna Harbor Dockside Market (Open Saturdays!)

The Tuna Harbor Dockside Market’s open-air seafood market is open on Saturdays from 8am until 1pm or until sold out. The public and chefs, will delight in purchasing fresh caught seafood direct from their local fishermen. Sustainable fishing practices, minimal carbon footprints, and local harvesters – Tuna Harbor Dockside Market benefits all.

Get closer to your food sources here and taste freshest catch. Gain an understanding and appreciation of the fishing and aquaculture industry. Be inspired to consider careers in commercial fishing and aquaculture. Our fishermen and women love to talk. Ask them about what they sell, how they catch and harvest it, and their favorite way to cook it! Learn more about this San Diego port-side gem by visiting  thdocksidemarket.com .

Marina for Kids: What types of food do you think are sold at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Harbor? I'll give you a hint, it's not just tuna!

The New Children's Museum

The Museum opened in La Jolla in 1983 as The Children’s Museum of San Diego. It moved in 1993 to a downtown warehouse to become the Children’s Museum/Museo de los Niños. The Museum reopened in 2008 as The New Children’s Museum, a dramatic, multi-level 50,000 square-foot building designed by visionary and award-winning architect Rob Wellington Quigley. The New Children’s Museum is a new model of children’s museum whose mission is to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking in children and families through inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art. With a variety of interactive installations and hands-on activities, there's always something new to discover! Plan your visit at  thinkplaycreate.org .

Douglas Hotel

Located at Second Avenue and Market Street, the Douglas Hotel and Creole Palace nightclub was the only place of quality lodging and entertainment for Black people during a period of intense segregation. As the premier Black entertainment venue on the Pacific Coast, the spacious ballroom and stage featured a risqué chorus line show, and jazz, blues and boogie-woogie performances. The hotel nightclub hosted celebrities Joe Louis, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington. Learn more about the Douglas Hotel by visiting  here .