At The Backroads

Immaculate Conception Church @ Old Town

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park presents the opportunity to learn and experience about the life in the Mexican and early American periods of 1821 to 1872.

Heritage Park Victorian Village @ Old Town

Visitors are offered a glimpse into the past, as converging cultures transformed San Diego from a Mexican pueblo to an American settlement.  Old Town is the site of the first Spanish settlement in California. This place is considered to be the birthplace of California and of the West Coast.

It was here, more specifically at Cabrillo National Monument, on September 28, 1542 that the first European, the noble Captain Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and his heroic crew landed from two ships, San Salvador and Victoria. Here too, the daring Spanish navigator, Captain Sebastian Vizcaino entered the harbor on November 10, 1602 with three ships and anchored opposite the site of Old Town.

Old Carriage @ Old Town Plaza

In 1968, the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation established Old Town State Historic Park to preserve the rich heritage that characterized San Diego during the 1821 to 1872 period. The park includes a main plaza, exhibits, museums and living history demonstrations.

Kiosk @ Old Town Sidewalk Market

Old Cottage @ Heritage Park

Even today, life moves more slowly in this part of San Diego, where the hustle and bustle is balanced with history and fiestas. 

Old Town Consist of Unique Retail Stores

Quiet Little Nook @ Old Town

Bunny 

Walking around the park affords a variety of things happening in different places. 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, a 1850 Catholic Cemetery.

El Campo Santo Cemetery

“San Diego is perhaps the most haunted city of the United States ” , yikes . ” San Diego’s Whaley House is listed by the United States Department of Commerce as an authentic haunted house.  Built on the site of early San Diego’s public gallows, and scene of numerous deaths and angry confrontations, the Whaley House is home to several ghosts and unexplained phenomena. The Whaley House used to serve as a courthouse before, and one of the graves at El Campo Cemetery is Yankee Jim Robinson who was hung at the Whaley House. There were 477 bodies buried in the cemetery but not all of them remained in the wallks of cemetery since part of the cemetery was later paved over and became part of San Diego Avenue. Some people who parked their cars on top of the graves paved over found their cars hard to start afterwards.” - http://gothere.com/sandiego/Ghosts/index.htm 

But walking along Old Town does not necessarily mean walking with the ghosts. Here, at any time of the year, you will see park employees and also some retail and restaurant employess dress in old costumes, and you will a lot of times surrounded by Latin American music. There is actually a lively feel around old town. However, those who are interested with the ghostly feel can take the ghost tours and also visit the Whaley House, which really becomes more popular during halloween. I have never been to the ghost tour nor inside Whaley House so I have no ghostly experience to share. Visitors at Old Town can experience a working blacksmith shop, enjoy music, have a load of Mexican foods, see or touch the park’s burros and engage in activities that represent early San Diego.

Sunset @ Old Town

Sunset @ Old Town

The Moon, the Star and Some Display Items @ Sidewalk Kiosks

Visiting Old Town reminisce the ambiance of 1800s San Diego…..where California began.

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