The old town of San Diego, according to archival data, is considered one of the first inhabited areas. This place is associated with the first European settlement in the state, and unofficially it was nicknamed the Cradle of California.
History of creation
Historians claim that a permanent colony of Spanish soldiers and missionaries was founded in 1769. In the same year, the mission was opened, initially the mission, the fortress was on the hill of the Presidio. Over time, people began to move to the foot of the Presidio, thereby forming the Old City of San Diego.
In 1821, when Mexico gained independence from the Spanish, San Diego was recognized as part of Mexican California. After 13 years, the city became chartered, the population was declining, but then the status of "pueblo" was abolished. In 1848, California passed to the United States, and until the 1860s, the area was called the heart of American San Diego. But over time, the residents of the old area moved to a new location to be closer to shipping.
Short description
A large number of buildings built in the Old Town of San Diego are recognized as historical monuments of the USA. Some of the structures retained the style of adobe architecture. The central alley is decorated with figures of cowboys made of wood and other art objects in the style of the Wild West. Antique shops, museums, souvenir shops, and Mexican restaurants can be found in the Old Town of San Diego. Locals are proud that the area is officially considered a state historical park. You don't need to book in advance to take a walk around it.
There are many attractions in the Old Town of San Diego, including:
- "Casa de Estudillo" is a house built by the first settlers, officer Jose Maria Estudillo and his son Jose Antonio in 1827. The style of the building with 13 rooms is Spanish colonial, the structure resembles the letter "U". It became famous due to its association with the work "Ramona", which was written by Helen Hunt Jackson in 1884. In 1970, the house became a national monument of the USA.
- The "Casa de Macado y Silvas" building was built in 1832 in the Adobe style. There was a restaurant here, then it was a house for living, a cafe, a souvenir shop, and an art studio. In 1942, a church was opened in this place. In the late 1960s, the facility was bought by state parks and renovated. It is now a California historical monument.
How to get
You can take a Greyhound bus and it will take you to your destination. The San Diego trolleybus is also suitable, and you need to use this public transport to get to the Old Town bus stop. If you get there by car, you need to follow the I-5 exit north of the center and follow the signs. There is free parking in the Old Town of San Diego. A taxi will take you to the specified area from anywhere in San Diego.
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