Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Facts for Kids

This page is about the California state historic park. For the neighborhood of San Diego, see Old Town, San Diego. For the Old Town transit center, see Old Town Transit Center (MTS Transit Center).

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Old Town San Diego Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district

(2015)
Location in San Diego Show map of San Diego Location in California Show map of California
Location	San Diego, California
Area	29.08 acres (117,700 m²)
Built	1825
Architectural style	Colonial
NRHP reference No.	71000182
Added to NRHP	September 3, 1971

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is a special place in San Diego, California. It's like a time machine that takes you back to the early days of San Diego. This park protects many old buildings from the years 1820 to 1870. It helps us remember how San Diego began and grew. The park opened in 1968. It has been one of California's most visited state parks.

In 1969, this important site became California Historical Landmark No. 830. Later, on September 3, 1971, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was named the Old Town San Diego Historic District.

History
Attractions
- Nearby Places to Visit
Gallery
See also

History

San Diego's First Home

Long ago, in 1769, the first European settlement on the West Coast of what is now the United States was built here. It was called the San Diego Presidio. This was a military fort for Spanish California. Gaspar de Portolà started it. The Mission San Diego de Alcalá was also founded that same year by Father Junípero Serra.

Both the Presidio and the Mission were first built on a hill. This hill was above the San Diego River. Today, this spot is Presidio Park, right next to Old Town State Historic Park.

Moving Down the Hill

After five years, the Mission moved several miles upriver. It went to where Mission San Diego de Alcalá is now. The Presidio Hill stayed the main settlement for many years. It was a safe place from attacks by other Europeans or Native Americans.

But as it became safer, people wanted to live closer to the base of the hill. It was more convenient there. In the 1820s, the town of San Diego grew at the bottom of the hill. This is the area we now call Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The old Presidio fort was left behind and slowly fell apart.

A Busy Mexican Town

During the time when Mexico ruled, Old Town was the main center for business and government. Even then, only a few hundred people lived there. Richard Henry Dana Jr. wrote about San Diego during this period in his famous book, Two Years Before the Mast.

In 1834, the Mexican government made San Diego a "pueblo." This meant it was a chartered town. However, its pueblo status was taken away in 1838. This happened because the population got smaller. One problem was that the town was far from the water where ships could easily dock. Everything had to be brought ashore at Point Loma. Then it was carried several miles to town.

Becoming Part of the United States

When California joined the United States in 1850, San Diego became the county seat of San Diego County. At this time, most of San Diego was still just the Old Town area. The town's population was about 650 people.

Old Town remained the heart of San Diego until the 1860s. Then, a man named Alonzo Horton started building a new area. This new area is where downtown San Diego is today. People and businesses quickly moved from "Old Town" to Horton's "New Town." New Town was much closer to the shipping docks.

In 1871, government records moved from Old Town to a new courthouse in New Town. From then on, Downtown became the main part of San Diego. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park helps us remember Old Town as it was. It shows us life from 1821, when it was settled, until 1872. That's when it lost its important spot to Downtown.

Today, Old Town is a popular place for visitors. It is especially known for its Mexican restaurants. The state park has several places to eat. Other restaurants and gift shops are in the neighborhood around the park.

Attractions

The Cosmopolitan Hotel

The First San Diego Courthouse (left) and Colorado House (right)

The park has five original adobe buildings. It also includes shops, restaurants, and museums. Other old buildings include a schoolhouse and a blacksmith shop. You can also see San Diego's first newspaper office. There's a cigar and pipe store, old houses, gardens, and a stable. The stable has a collection of old carriages.

You can find stores where local artists show their crafts. The shops here are colorful and unique. They show the cultural history of San Diego. There are boutiques, antique stores, and shops with local art. It costs nothing to enter the state park or any of its museums.

The museums and historic sites include:

Plaza San Diego Viejo: Also called Plaza de Las Armas or Washington Square.
Casa de Estudillo: An adobe house from 1827. It is a National Historic Landmark.
Casa de Machado y Silvas: An adobe house from the 1840s.
Casa de Machado y Stewart: A restored adobe house from the 1800s.
Blackhawk Smithy & Stable: Here you can see blacksmiths at work.
Colorado House: This is a rebuilt hotel from the 1850s. It used to be the Wells Fargo History Museum. It showed a 19th-century stage stop and telegraph office.
First San Diego Courthouse: A rebuilt courthouse from the mid-1800s.
Johnson House: A rebuilt office building from the mid-1800s. It later became the home of George Alonzo Johnson.
Mason Street School: This was San Diego's first public school.
Racine and Laramie ("La Casa de Rodriguez"): A rebuilt tobacconist shop from the mid-1800s.
San Diego Union Museum: A newspaper office and print shop from the mid-1800s.
Seeley Stables: Rebuilt stables and barns from the mid-1800s. They show horse-drawn buggies, wagons, and carriages.
Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant ("La Casa de Bandini"): A restored hotel from 1870. It still works as a hotel and restaurant today.
The park often has live history shows and free tours. Park staff and volunteers help explain the history. The Mexican Commercial Corner has many local small businesses and artists.

Nearby Places to Visit

Right next to the state park is Heritage County Park. It is run by San Diego County. This park has seven buildings from the 1880s and 1890s. They were moved here from other parts of the city.
Also nearby is the Mormon Battalion Historic Site.
The city-owned Presidio Park is on the hill next door. This is where the original Presidio of San Diego was built.
The San Diego Sheriff's Museum and Educational Center is in Old Town. It shows police equipment, uniforms, and a patrol car. You can also see a helicopter, motorcycle, a jail cell, and a courtroom.
The Whaley House museum is also close by.