Historic Seventh Avenue: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

Explore one of San Diego's most architecturally significant streets at your own pace. Historic Seventh Avenue: A Self-Guided Walking Tour is a beautifully illustrated 40-page booklet that brings the remarkable history of the 3500 block of Seventh Avenue to life — through historic photographs, architectural drawings, and detailed accounts of the homes and the people who shaped them.

Nestled along the northwest edge of Balboa Park, this extraordinary block began taking shape in 1903 when civic leader George W. Marston and his wife, Anna Lee, first recognized the potential of what was then a rugged, undeveloped mesa. Over the following decade, it became home to a remarkable collection of Arts and Crafts–era residences designed by some of the region's most influential architects — including Irving J. Gill, Louis J. Gill, William S. Hebbard, Richard S. Requa, and Hazel Wood Waterman.

The booklet also celebrates the block's rich landscape heritage, shaped by pioneering horticulturist Kate Sessions and other prominent designers whose work defined the character of the neighborhood and nearby Balboa Park. Designed as the perfect companion for a leisurely walk through the area, it's ideal for architecture enthusiasts, history lovers, and anyone curious about one of San Diego's best-kept secrets.