Walking Tour: Fulton Mall (Fresno, California)

Guide to Historic Architecture
Fulton Mall, Fresno California

Prepared by the Preservation Committee of the
Fresno City and County Historical Society

Before the town of Fresno Station was established, wild elk, antelope and sheep roamed the area that would become downtown. After the town was founded in 1872, the first commercial district was located along H Street and the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. In 1877, J Street (now Fulton) was a dirt road lined with woodframed structures. Calvin Jones built a flour mill and boarding house on J near Tulare Street. His wife kept a herd of cows in a corral behind the mill. They often grazed on open land nearby. The mill site is now occupied by the Mason building (1044 Fulton Mall).

As the town grew, business blocks were built and the commercial district moved east to J and K streets (Fulton and Van Ness). In 1884, the Grand Central Hotel at J and Mariposa was purchased by the flamboyant financier Fulton G. Berry. After his death, his positive impact on the community led the City Fathers to change the name of J Street to Fulton in his honor. As the new century progressed into the 1920s and 30s, Fulton was truly the main street of Fresno. High-rise buildings dotted its length.

As the city moved north, a plan to revitalize the downtown culminated in tearing out the sidewalks and pavement of Fulton Street to create a pedestrian mall. This project was one of the first of its kind in the country and was a bold and creative enterprise that gained national recognition. The Fulton Mall was dedicated on September 1, 1964.

Today, the Fulton Mall contains many historic buildings with representative examples of architectural styles illustrating a variety of time periods. Most of these buildings are also part of the history of pioneer Fresno families.

Please refer to the accompanying map for locations of the buildings on this tour.

You may visit the buildings in order or select from the list below.

1. Pantages Theatre

2. San Joaquin Light & Power Company

3. Hotel Sierra/Bank of America

4. Hotel Fresno

5. Brix Building

6. Cory Building

7. Mattei Building

8. J. J. Newberry's Department Store

9. Brix Estate Building

10. Helm Building