Here is a photo of the first courthouse that was built in 1871. The land was donated by downtown founder Alonzo E. Horton and the architect was Levi Goodrich of San Jose. The archives were moved here from the Whaley House in Old Town which was served as the courthouse since 1856. The photo was taken by Herve Friend for Douglas Gunn's 1887 book ‘Picturesque San Diego.’