Walking Tour of Historic
Architecture
in the Tower District
Fresno, California
Prepared by the Preservation
Committee of the
Fresno City and County Historical Society
The Tower District centers around the
theater from which it took its name; but, in fact, the area began to form soon
after the turn of the century, when the city boundaries moved across Divisadero
and began to move north.
The Tower District is a unique area of
Fresno–unusual shops abound within its borders. There are more antique
stores, book shops, theaters, galleries and restaurants concentrated in this
area than anywhere else in the city. A walk through the Tower District provides
the visitor with a variety of unusual experiences.
Buildings of all kinds can be found within
this area. Styles of architecture range from Victorian to Craftsman Bungalow.
Many of the residences in this area reflect the stylistic choices that were
available to builders and architects. Instead of a single style, many buildings
were constructed with a combination of styles. For example, a Georgian doorway
might be applied to a Classical Revival home. A bungalow might be given an
English or French flavor. Often a Monterey balcony was added to a Spanish
Revival home. As a result, the character of this neighborhood is radically
different from the contemporary subdivisions of today.
Many of the commercial buildings reflect
the influence of the Tower Theatre Block's Streamline Moderne style. Other
buildings or blocks were constructed as simple structures or have been
remodeled in such a way that the original design has been altered or covered by
a contemporary facade.
Please refer to the accompanying map for locations of the buildings on this
tour.
Begin the
tour
You may also visit individual buildings on
the tour, as listed below:
Echo Avenue
Carmen Avenue
Home Avenue
Pine Avenue/Linden Avenue
Wishon Avenue/Floradora Avenue/Fern
Avenue
Olive Avenue
South of Olive Avenue
Van Ness Avenue
University Avenue
A published version of this guide may be
purchased from the Fresno City and County
Historical Society.
© 1990 Fresno City and County
Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Used by permission.
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