Visit Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, San Diego, California

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Old Town San Diego is the site of the oldest European settlement in present-day California. Long considered the "birthplace" of California, San Diego is the site of the first permanent Spanish settlement in the Golden State. In 1769, Father Junipero Serra established the first mission in a chain of 21 missions that were to be the cornerstones of California’s development. Father Serra’s mission and Presidio were built on a hillside overlooking what is now known as Old Town San Diego. A small Mexican community of adobe buildings developed at the base of the hill in 1820’s and by 1835 had attained the moniker of El Pueblo de San Diego. In 1846, Lieutenants from the U.S. Navy and a Marines raised the American flag in the Old Town San Diego Plaza. The State of California Department of Parks and Recreation established Old Town State Historic Park in 1968 with the goal of preserving the rich heritage that characterized San Diego during the period from 1821 to 1872. The park includes a main plaza, exhibits, museums and living history demonstrations. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is the most visited park in the California system and all of its museums are free to the public. Among the numerous historic buildings in Old Town are included La Casa de Estudillo, the home of Don Jose Antonio de Estudillo, a Spanish aristocrat. It became a sanctuary for women and children during the American occupation in 1846. La Casa de Bandini, the home of Don A. Bandini. Built in the early 19th century, this adobe was the headquarters of Commodore Robert F. Stockton in 1846. La Casa de Altamirno Pedrorena, the residence of Don Miguel de Pedrorena, who made his home in San Diego in the 1850's. He was member of an old Madrid family and was educated both in Madrid and at Oxford. In sympathy with the Americans during the Mexican War, he became captain in the US Army. He saved the famous old Spanish gun "El Jupiter", standing now on Fort Stockton in Presidio Park. Just up the hill from Old Town San Diego Historic State Park is found Heritage Park where several of San Diego’s most notable Victorian homes have been relocated and authentically restored to their original splendor. Just a short walk down San Diego Avenue is the Whaley House, an officially designated haunted house, the Little Adobe Chapel on Conde Street, the first Church in Old Town San Diego and El Campo Santo on San Diego Avenue, an 1850’s Catholic Cemetery. Tourists and residents alike find Old Town San Diego a wonderful place to visit with more than 25 restaurants offering authentic, regional cuisine along with art galleries, shopping, events such as the “TwainFest”, a free and family-friendly festival celebrating the writing of Mark Twain in August, the annual Old Town Art Festival in October, the “Day of the Dead” commemoration (which is actually 2 days in November) and the “12 Days of Christmas” held each December. Old Town also offers nightly entertainment at a number of venues. The museums include: Casa de Estudillo, a National Historic Landmark in its own right Black Hawk Smithy & Stable, which features blacksmith demonstrations Casa de Machado y Stewart, a restored 19th century adobe First San Diego Courthouse, a reconstructed mid 19th century courthouse Mason Street School, the first public school house in San Diego Racine and Laramie Store, a reconstructed mid 19th century period general store San Diego Union Museum, a mid-19th century period newspaper office and print shop Seeley Stables, a reconstructed mid 19th century stable and barns that feature horse-drawn buggies, wagons, carriages and western memorabilia Sheriff's Museum, with police equipment, uniforms, patrol car, helicopter, motorcycle, a jail cell and courtroom

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