Huntington Boulevard Historic District

Fresno’s historic streetcar boulevard

Huntington Boulevard is one of Fresno’s most beautiful historic streets. A wide grassy median lined with vintage streetlamps runs down the middle, framed by more than 100 years of grand homes. The district stretches from First Street to Cedar Avenue, just east of downtown.

A little history

• The neighborhood was laid out in 1911 as the Alta Vista Tract, a “streetcar suburb.”
• The boulevard is named after Henry E. Huntington, a Los Angeles investor who helped fund the streetcar line.
• Streetcars ran down the middle of the boulevard from 1907 to 1929. After the tracks were removed, they were replaced with the grassy median you see today.
• Many of Fresno’s leading families lived here, including Abraham Blum, president of Gottschalks department store.
• Today it’s an official local historic district with 121 homes.

What to do

1. Walk the median. Stroll the grassy center strip and take in the homes on both sides.
2. Spot the architecture styles. Look for Craftsman bungalows, Spanish Revival and Italian Renaissance Revival homes, built from the 1910s to the 1960s.
3. Look at the historic streetlamps. They line the median right where the streetcar once ran. Neighbors restored them in black and gold.
4. Enjoy the trees. Camphor trees, tall Mexican fan palms and crape myrtles were planted to give the street an “almost tropical” look.
5. Take photos. Late afternoon light makes the homes and palms glow.
6. Picture the past. Imagine streetcars rolling down the boulevard to Recreation Park a century ago.

Good to know

• Free: The street is public and open any time.
• Private homes: Please stay on the sidewalk or the median and respect residents’ privacy.
• Best times: Spring and fall mornings or evenings, when it’s cooler.
• Parking: Use street parking. Don’t block driveways.

Optional Fields

• Price: Free
• Hours: Open 24 hours (public street)
• Features: Free Admission, Walking, Historic, Pet Friendly (dogs on leash)