Overview

This 1.1-mile, 1.5-hours walking tour of Hillcrest covers San Diego’s LGBTQ+ history with stories of some of its earliest gay bars, the hate crimes plaque, Harvey Milk Street, the Center, the Rainbow Flag and much more.

The tour covers how and why the migration of gay bars from downtown began, how San Diego and Hillcrest attracted a large LGBTQ population, and how even the gay bars were once “closeted.”

** Please note this is a point to point tour. We do not provide transportation back to the starting point. Many of our guests like to enjoy the shops & restaurants they learned about on tour on their way back.

You do not want to miss learning about the people, places and events that made San Diego’s gayborhood the vibrant community it is today.

Private tours available upon request.

Description

Pass By: Urban MO's Bar & Grill, 308 University Ave, San Diego, California 92103

We start at the Mural that is on 3rd. The perfect place for some ah-mazing selfies!

Pass By: Hillcrest, San Diego, California

The Hillcrest sign which greets visitors into the neighbourhood high above the intersection of Fifth and University has been a beacon of diversity since it was first erected in 1940. An iconic and historical piece of San Diego history!
It was a gift from local women shopkeepers

Pass By: Flicks, 1017 University Ave, San Diego, California 92103

Flicks San Diego is arguably the best San Diego Gay Bar in the heart of Hillcrest, one of the original gay video bars. Also home of Welfare Wednesdays.

Pass By: Rich's, 1051 University Ave, San Diego, California 92103

Rich's is San Diego's largest and most popular gay nightclub. They have two large, separate rooms each with a fully-stocked bar, DJ, and dance floor.

Pass By: San Diego, San Diego, California

The San Diego LGBT Community Canter. In 1971 our world was a very different place. Being “out” simply wasn’t an option for many. Just being a member
of the LGBTQ community could be dangerous, and there was no place to turn for help.

We are proud of the history of The Center’s service. Originally just an answering machine in a borrowed closet that served as a lifeline for those looking for compassionate connection, it is now one of the largest and most vibrant LGBTQ Community Centers in the nation, providing our community with more than 84,600 direct service visits each year.

Pass By: Hillcrest Pride Flag, 1500 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103, USA

The Hillcrest Pride Flag is located on the median of Normal Street at University Ave and stands 65' tall with a 30' rainbow flag.The rainbow flag (also known as the gay pride flag or LGBT pride flag) is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) pride and LGBTQ social movements. The colors reflect the diversity of the LGBTQ community, as the flag is often used as a symbol of gay pride during LGBTQ rights marches. While this use of the rainbow flag originated in San Francisco, it is now used worldwide. The symbol is one of several uses of rainbow flags