Photo Tour | Points of Interest
To visit Old Town San Diego is to go back in time to the Birthplace of California. The first Europeans settled here in 1769, and so began the first permanent Spanish settlement in California. Father Junipero Serra established the very first mission in a chain of 21 missions that became the cornerstone of California’s colonization. Father Serra’s mission and Presidio was built on the hillside overlooking today’s Old Town San Diego. At the base of the hill in the 1820’s, a small Mexican community of adobe buildings was formed. By 1835, Old Town had attained the status of El Pueblo de San Diego. In 1846, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant and a Marine Lieutenant, raised the American flag in the Old Town San Diego Plaza. Today, original and reconstructed buildings beautifully preserve the rich history and cultural heritage, that characterized San Diego during the 1821 to 1872 period.
Today’s Old Town offers professional theater, galleries, artisans, wine tasting, dining, and shopping all within easy walking distance around the central park. There’s over 17 museums and historic sites, an 1850′s cemetery, over 100 shops, restaurants from Mexican to Sushi and everything in between, and even an officially designated haunted house! Throughout the year you’ll find live entertainment, dancers, mariachis, and period attired docents. Tours and carriage rides are often available. Old Town is a very short walk from the San Diego Trolley Transit Center, as well as conveniently close to downtown San Diego.
Photo Tour
Points of Interest
- El Campo Santo – A 1850 Catholic cemetery, some say is also haunted!
- Heritage Park | Several of San Diego’s most notable Victorian homes authentically restored
- Junipero Serra Museum Historical collections, rotating exhibits
- Little Adobe Chapel | The 1st church in Old Town
- Mason Street School | San Diego’s 1st one room schoolhouse
- Presidio Park | Site of the original Mission & Presidio (fort)
- Whaley House | Old Town’s Officially Designated haunted house
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