Welcome to Old Town San Diego!

History of Old Town San Diego

CALIFORNIA'S ORIGINAL PEOPLE

The earliest indications of people living in San Diego date back 20,000 years. They called themselves Kumeyaay. When the Spaniards arrived, they used the word Diegue�o to identify the Indians associated with the Missions. Explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo reported that the native's 'were good natured and an attractive people.'

The were apprehensive but nonaggressive. They were a proud and independent people who resisted change and clung passionately to their customs and beliefs. With the introduction of the Spanish, many Kumeyaay retreated to the hills.

The Kumeyaay were not a politically organized people and therefore were unprepared to deal with the imposition of European culture. They were further debilitated by thephysical onslaught of disease to which they had no immunity.

BIRTHPLACE OF CALIFORNIA

Juan Cabrillo discovered California when he entered San Diego Bay in 1542. It was the feast day of Saint Michael the Archangel. Cabrillo named the port San Miguel in his honor. It was another 60 years before Spaniards revisited San Miguel.

Explorer Vizcaino arrived at the port in 1602. An excerpt from his journal follows:

'. . . we arrived at the port which must be the best to be found in all the South Seas. On the 12th of said month, which was the day of the glorious San Diego, the general, admiral, religious, captains, ensigns, and almost all the men went ashore. A hut was built and mass was said in celebration of the feast of Se�or San Diego. This port was given the name of San Diego.' Viscaino, in disregard of orders, changed the name of the port to San Diego, claiming Cabrillo's calculations of latitude were incorrect and he could find no San Miguel.

In 1759, Father Serra dedicated the first Mission as Mission San Diego de Alcala, after a Franciscan friar, Saint Didacus, who was sainted by Pope sixtus V in 1588. Had the explorer been British Catholic, the name of the settlement might have been jamestown as Diego anglicized is James!

Take a look at the official Old Town San Diego website.

Old Town San Diego Official Website Below

Old Town Museums

Old Town is called the Birthplace of California because it was the first European settlement on the West Coast. Now, 37 historic buildings demonstrate the early pueblo period. Costumed docents do a 'living history every Wednesday. Free Park Ranger tours available daily 11:00 & 2:00 from the Park's Visitor Center. Thirty-five award-winning restaurants host the 12 block area plus world-famous Bazaar del Mundo. Free parking. Shops opens at 10:00 am daily.

OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO STATE HISTORIC

PARK:
The State Park recreates life in the Mexican and early American periods of 1821 to 1872. To maintain these buildings and keep them open to the public, many merchants have been invited to set up shop interpretative of the period merchandise and businesses that once thrived in this small pueblo community so very long ago.

' Alvarado House (1824) Reconstructed wood house was the residence of the sister to the last governor of Mexico. Today, you'll find an interpretative shop specializing in historic and gourmet foods and candies.

' Black Hawk Livery & Blacksmith (1860s) J.B. Hinton owned and operated blacksmith shop. Today, docents are found reenacting the tools of the trade.

' Casa de Bandini (1869) A.L.Seeley bought from Juan Bandini and made it a hotel. Today, it serves as home of the beautiful Casa de Bandini Mexican restaurant.

' Casa de Estudillo (1830) This original adobe is the largest ever