Downtown Chula Vista celebrated its heritage by dedicating its “Walk of History” on Jan. 12.
A brief ceremony sponsored by the museum introduced the exhibit of historical photos, which is displayed down Third Avenue between E and G streets.
Twelve 15-foot-by-16-foot displays show a downtown building as it appeared decades ago, mounted opposite the building that occupies the same location today. In some cases, buildings have remained unchanged over their 70- or 80-year existence while some structures have been replaced by others.
“It’s really quite amazing how many photographs exist of activity along Third Avenue beginning in 1910,” said Chula Vista Heritage Museum manager Frank Roseman.
“For example, a bank was built on the northwest corner of Third Avenue around the same time that the Melville Building was being built on the southeast corner. Somebody, perhaps the owners, must have been impressed by those buildings because an awful lot of pictures were taken then.”
The Heritage Museum also researched and printed a “Walk of History” guide booklet that provides more detailed information about the photographs and gives historic information about other buildings and homes along the walk. The guide is available free at the museum and from a number of downtown businesses.
The project was made possible by grants from the city of Chula Vista’s Performing and Visual Art Grant Fund, the county of San Diego and University Mechanical and Engineering Contractors, Inc.
Placement of the permanent displays was coordinated by Roseman and Peter Watry, Friends of the Museum executive board member.
The Heritage Museum, located at 360 Third Ave., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday. For more information, contact the museum at (619) 476-5373.
