San Deigo Historic Site 66 CONGRESS HALL SITE

At Calhoun and Wallace Streets is the second, and last, site of Congress Hall, which had earlier stood on the northeast side of theplaza. It was a two-story board-and-batten hotel erected in 1867 by George Dewitt Clinton Washington Robinson. One of its claims to fame is that it served as a pony express office. The Russell, Majors & Waddellservice, between St. Joseph, Missouri, and San Francisco, was not the onlypony express in the history of the West, by any means. San Diego County hadlines between San Diego and Julian, and from Julian north into Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

At various intervals Congress Hall was also a wild west saloon and gambling hall, a rooming house, post office, and a bakery. A balconyover the porch provided a vantage point for bands and public speakers, on occasion.

Congress Hall was pulled down in 1939.