Horton Plaza Historic Park

The tall, white fountain centered in Horton Plaza shoots water into the air from a basin built in nineteen ten. Alonzo Horton bought the land for this park at an auction in eighteen sixty-seven, betting that the city center would shift south toward the bay. He paid twenty-six dollars for the entire parcel. Today, the fountain holds the original bronze sculptures of the seals that once decorated the centerpiece, marking the heart of Horton’s original dream for a modern downtown San Diego.