Historical Houses

La Mesa's history can be traced through its varied and well-preserved architectural record. Surviving examples of early buildings represent a number of recognizable styles typical of southern California. The settlement of La Mesa began in earnest in the late 1800s, evidenced by growth in the local citrus industry and the layout of some of the City's earliest subdivisions. From this early era, examples of the late Victorian period include the Albert W. Gray House at 8045 Culowee Street (1891) and the La Mesa Depot at 4695 Nebo Drive (1894). Built in 1910, the Robertson House (pictured above) is an example of Craftsman-style architecture. The home remains largely unchanged today.

After the turn of the 20th century, a building boom within newly created subdivisions such as Grable's Addition and Park's Addition was marked by the proliferation of California bungalows. These were typically executed in the popular Craftsman style and can be found in abundance in the Date Avenue Historic District. The Craftsman bungalow was the residential architectural style of choice through about 1930.
Spanish Eclectic and Mission Revival architecture also reflect the popular tastes of the 1920 and 1930s. Many Spanish Eclectics can be found in the eastern part of the city (foothills of Mount Helix) as well as within the historic district. The 1938 Martin Christopher House at 8505 Lemon Avenue is an excellent Mission Revival example.

A closer look reveals the existence of a varied range of historic styles scattered throughout the city. There are a few notable Prairie structures of the style popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1920s. Several distinctive California Stick style residences are located in the Mt. Helix area, and commercial examples of Art Deco and Art Moderne can be seen in downtown La Mesa. The Tudor style, distinguished by steeply pitched roofs and decorative half-timbering, is also found here. One noteworthy Tudor example is the Clifford Sawyer House at 4420 Merritt Boulevard (1929).

All told, there are over 250 pre-1940 structures representing over a dozen distinct architectural styles in La Mesa. Many of these are largely unmodified structures in excellent condition, resulting in a varied and well-preserved inventory.

Click here to see a complete list of all historical landmarks.