San Diego has a tradition of neon lit neighborhood signs dating back the early '40's. Most of the signs today are replicas or have been significantly rebuilt as the originals had seen better times. Only oneoriginal remains. A few are relatively new within the last 25 years, so I guess you could say they are original as well. We've snapped pictures of many of the signs on our various bicycling jaunts around San Diego.

A few blocks west of our Hamilton Home is University Heights, which was the original location of the San Diego Normal School. In the 1923, the San Diego Normal School became the San Diego Teachers College and in 1931 moved to a new location a few miles east where is has evolved to become San Diego State University. Interesting, isn't it, that the neighborhood is called University Heights when the University was technically never there? Actually, there was a earlier plan to build a branch of the University of Southern California on the site, thus the name of University Heights and the nearby University Boulevard. The trolley design is a reference to the streetcar line that once ran down this street (Park St). There are ostriches on the top of each pillar commemorating an ostrich farm in the area in the early 1900's.

A few blocks east of Hamilton Home is Normal Heights, which ironically, is named for the Normal School that was located in University Heights. Weird isn't it? The Normal Heights sign is the oldest remaining original sign - dating to the '50's, but apparently nobody knows exactly when in the 50's.

(January 26 update) Here are the University Heights and Normal Heights signs at night. They look very cool and add a nice ambiance to the street. Sorry, the iPhone doesn't do them justice.

The area between University Heights and Normal Heights, where Hamilton House is located, is often referred to as Between the Heights, or sometimes - Abnormal Heights (it was named that long before we got here; we had nothing to do with it). Of course, there is no sign for that.

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A little further east on Adams Street is Kensington. The original sign, installed in 1953 was replaced with a replica in 2010.

Going back west beyond University Heights, you find the Hillcrest neighborhood, which was split off from University Heights in 1906. The original sign, which straddled University Avenue, was built in 1940 and rebuilt in 1984. In 2011, a replica sign featuring LED lights replaced the original.

(January 15 update) A little further west from Hillcrest is the Mission Hills neighborhood. We had difficulty finding this sign - and in fact did not find it until a week and a half after the original posting of this blog page. It was tough to find because it's not over the middle of a road as are the others. The remains of the original sign have been repurposed as part of a commercial building.

Relation | Bookmark | Edit | | Report | Link Rating: (0) The remains of the original Mission Hills sign from the 50's(?) has been incorporated into a commercial building

The original "Boulevard" sign stood from the '40's to the '60's. The current sign was erected in 1989 as part of a redevelopment effort for the west end of El Cajon Boulevard. Very art deco. You almost expect a big old Cadillac with the pointy tail fins to go driving by.

North Park is at the northeast corner of Balboa Park. The original sign from 1935 was reshaped and lowered after streetcar lines were removed in 1949. The sign was taken down for repair in 1967 and never put back. The current sign was built in 1993.

The Gaslampe Quarter is the historical heart of San Diego and the center of downtown night life. Many buildings are of the Victorian Era and the area experience a renaissance in the 80's and 90's. The sign was built in 1988.

Other than replacements, the Little Italy sign is the newest neon neighborhood sign. Dedicated in 2000, the Little Italy sign includes a pillar on one side memorializing the Italian immigrants who earned a living in the San Diego Bay tuna industry and three pillars on the other side representing the Italian flag.

There are a few other neon neighborhood signs that we have not yet seen - We'll try to add pictures of these and try to get some night or twilight shots when the signs look their best (of course, night photos are tough when we have to be home by dark - due to bicycle travel!) Check back for updates.