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Candice Eley (619) 557-2889

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Robert Arends (619) 557-2834

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Edna Gutierrez (619) 557-2887

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Sarah Weinberg (619) 557-2838

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Twitter: @VisitSD_PR

AUGUST 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REVISIT SAN DIEGO’S COLORFUL HISTORY

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San Diego is not only California’s birthplace ( it is also the state’s historic soul. Visitors can forego the history books and instead travel to San Diego for a thorough lesson on California’s beginnings.

Whether it’s visiting Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma where California was first discovered in 1542, or exploring a gold mine in the mountains of Julian from the Southern California gold rush days of 1869, San Diego County is steep in historical journeys from corner to corner.

CALIFORNIA’S ORIGINAL PEOPLE

For centuries, San Diego was home to Indians, starting with descendants of the Asians who crossed the Bering Strait, and later with Kumeyaay and other Native American tribes. Today, there are 18 Indian reservations in San Diego County, more than any other county in the United States.

• The Barona Cultural Center & Museum is San Diego’s only museum on an Indian reservation dedicated to the perpetuation and presentation of the local Native culture. The unique educational museum displays handmade pottery, reed baskets, paintings, arrowheads and other artifacts, dating as far back as 10,000 years.

• The Pala Band of Mission Indians represents a tribe of Luiseño and Cupeño Indians that live as one — Pala. The Cupa Cultural Center in Pala in San Diego’s North County is where community members preserve tradition and culture through visitor education and activities. Guests can partake in day sessions that teach basket making, beading, arts and crafts and the Cupeño language.

FIRST SPANISH VISITOR

In 1542, Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed into San Diego Bay under the Spanish flag and was the first European to discover California.

• A visit to the Cabrillo National Monument is awarded with panoramic views of the city, ocean and mountains. Perched high atop the cliffs of Point Loma, the monument commemorates Cabrillo’s historic landing. Guests can also visit the exhibit hall and visitors center to learn more about the Portuguese explorer and watch a film that delves into his past. cabr

• Every September, the annual Cabrillo Festival celebrates Cabrillo’s time and legacy with a collaboration of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Portuguese culture and activities. Visitors can relive a paramount moment in California’s history with the reenactment of Cabrillo’s fleet landing in San Diego Bay.

MISSIONS

Spanish colonization brought dramatically beautiful and active missions to San Diego, which were established as the first permanent settlements in California to spread the message of Christianity. Out of the 21 missions established in California by Father Junipero Serra of Spain, the first and largest can be found in San Diego County.

• Mission San Diego de Alcala, originally located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, was Father Serra’s first California mission, and it was relocated in 1774 to its present site in Mission Valley near the San Diego River. History enthusiasts can make reservations for a tour, attend mass in the original chapel, visit the mission’s museum and stroll among the mission grounds where the oldest known cemetery in California is located.

• Located along Highway 79, Santa Ysabel, an assistencia (sub-mission) of Mission San Diego de Alcala, houses a mission museum and Indian burial grounds. 760-765-0810

• Oceanside’s Mission San Luis Rey is California’s largest mission and a symbol of the early mission legacy. Visitors can take a guided or self-guided tour of the mission grounds, including its museum featuring mission and Native American artifacts. Guests can also take monthly behind-the-scenes tours and reserve a weekend stay at the mission.

• In Pala in San Diego’s North County, Assistencia de San Antonio de Pala, better known as the Pala Mission, is the only California mission still used as a school and place of worship by Native Americans. Built in 1816 as a branch of Mission San Luis Rey, the mission offers tours with a stop in its museum where Indian artifacts are on display. 760-742-1600

OLD TOWN: WHERE SAN DIEGO AND CALIFORNIA BEGAN

Visitors can witness the living legacy of California’s birthplace at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, San Diego’s first “downtown.” Old Town marks the site of the first Spanish settlement on the U.S. West Coast and also represents San Diego’s Hispanic heritage from 1821 to 1872, when Mexico gained independence from Spain and took over the area. The six-block park features 12 acres of Mexican lore and historical sites presented in shops, restaurants, museums and several carefully preserved or restored adobe and wooden buildings.

• The oldest part of San Diego is best explored on foot. A tour by the State Park Department guides visitors through the unique history of the park, as well as the mysterious haunting tales that are said to have occurred in Old Town through the years. parks.

• Casa de Estudillo unveils the lifestyle of a prominent San Diego family and is the most famous of the original adobe buildings in Old Town. The house is furnished with representative items from the 16th to 20th centuries within its 13 rooms.

• The Casa de Aguirre Museum reveals what archaeologists unearthed during the 1994 restoration and rebuilding of Casa de Aguirre, home to one of San Diego’s wealthiest merchants and later a school for Indian children.

• Locals and visitors alike enjoy the variety of restaurants and unique shops throughout and surrounding the park. Fiesta de Reyes, Café Coyote, and Casa Guadalajara feature Mexican food and Bazaar Del Mundo stores capture the color and flavor of Old Mexico including specialty items from Latin America and around the world.

• A short hike from Old Town is Presidio Hill where California’s Spanish settlers initially resided before building houses at the bottom of the hill. The Junipero Serra Museum on the Presidio showcases items left behind by its early habitants; also on display is a cannon that was recovered from the sunken remains of a wooden sailing vessel at the bottom of San Diego Bay.

THE GASLAMP QUARTER – SAN DIEGO’S “NEW TOWN”

In 1869, Alonzo Horton bought a parcel of land near San Diego’s waterfront with the intention of relocating the heart of the city away from Old Town. Known today as the Gaslamp Quarter, Horton’s New Town rapidly outpaced Old Town, but success turned sour when New Town’s prosperity started attracting brothels, saloons and gambling halls in the late 1800s. The area became known as the “The Stingaree,” an infamous “red light” district, which flourished until outlawed in 1912.

• The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation offers a vivid re-creation of the Gaslamp Quarter’s history with a guided walking tour. Foundation guides share stories from the late 1800s when the city fell into disrepair and the “red light” district flourished. The tour also highlights the marketing secrets of the naughty ladies of the Stingaree, the haunts of Wyatt Earp and his three gambling halls and many of the neighborhood’s best Victorian structures.

• Ida Bailey’s famous brothel, next door to the Horton Grand Hotel, was the scene of the “Great Raid” in 1912, when San Diego police officers stormed into the brothel and arrested her prostitutes – marking the downfall of the area’s “red-light” reputation. Today, guests can stay a night at the hotel and wake up surrounded by Victorian charm.

• William Heath Davis was the first to envision a new downtown San Diego, but his attempt ended in failure. His house, now the William Heath Davis Historic House Museum, is the Gaslamp Quarter’s oldest surviving structure, which was shipped around Cape Horn and assembled in San Diego in 1850. Each room represents a historic period and is filled with fascinating and amusing stories about its famous inhabitants. history

CORONADO – THE CROWN CITY

Developed in the late 1880s as a world-class playground for the wealthy, the waterfront community of Coronado still exudes the carefree days from a century ago. Its most famous resident, the Hotel del Coronado, was the largest hotel in the world when it was built in 1888. In 1900, the make-shift Tent City was built at the foot of The Del and attracted vacationers for 39 years with a number of beachside activities.

• Situated along the Pacific Ocean, the Hotel del Coronado is a testament to the grandeur of the Victorian age. With historical displays and photos, the hotel’s Museum Market showcases the hotel’s legendary construction, its romantic past and old Hollywood connections, including its role as the backdrop for the wildly popular film, Some Like it Hot.

• An American Christmas at the Hotel del Coronado is a holiday celebration of the past. Performed by Coronado’s Lamb’s Players Theatre, the production gives a glimpse of what it was like to be at the hotel a century ago and includes songs, stories, dance and holiday cheer from the turn-of-the-century.

• Located along Orange Avenue, Coronado’s main thoroughfare, the Coronado Historical Association Museum of History and Art highlights the origins of the Crown City, military life on the island and early images of Coronado.

• The Coronado Historical Association leads two, easy paced walking tours that wind past the city’s landmarks. Tours include the Hotel del Coronado Tour, an hour-long tour of the hotel and its magnificent history, and the Promenade Through the Past tour highlighting Coronado’s famous buildings and architectural sites, including Ten City.

• Coronado Touring offers leisurely guided walks through quaint Coronado. Starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the tour begins at the stately mansion of John D. Spreckels, now the Glorietta Bay Inn, and passes by the Hotel del Coronado, Duchess of Windsor Cottage and the home where the Wizard of Oz was created.

JULIAN – THE HEART OF SAN DIEGO’S MINING DAYS

In the hills of San Diego’s East County is the delightful mountain community of Julian. A historic mining town, Julian grew in size during the Southern California gold rush of 1869. The town’s Victorian architecture, century-old stores and other well-preserved landmarks are a quaint reminder of the town’s short-lived boom that ended when the mines closed in the 1920s.

• The Julian Chamber of Commerce supplies maps for self-guided walking tours of Julian’s country charm and Victorian architecture that stretches from one end of town to the other. Main Street retains its false-front stores, country-style restaurants and an old fashioned soda fountain at the Julian Drug Store.

• Visitors can recreate the days of San Diego’s short-lived gold rush by following a guide through the intricate path of tunnels of the Eagle and High Peak Mine, one of Julian’s first gold mines. Guides also share tales of the life of early Julian residents. 760-765-0036

• The Julian Pioneer Museum showcases objects left behind by early Julian residents including clothing, household and mining equipment, Victorian-era pianos and Indian artifacts. 760-765-0227

• The town’s own reenactment group, the Julian Doves and Desperados perform historic, comedic and gunfight skits from 12 to 4 p.m. every Sunday afternoon throughout the year.

BALBOA PARK – THE CULTURAL CORE OF SAN DIEGO

Virtually every community in the United States boasts a city park, but not many compare to San Diego’s Balboa Park. The largest cultural complex west of the Mississippi and the largest, urban cultural park in the United States, Balboa Park is often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the West” for its vast concentration of major cultural institutions within its boundaries.

• Originally built for the Panama-California Exposition of 1915-1916, the buildings along the Prado in Balboa Park and their Spanish-Colonial Revival architecture are considered attractions in themselves. In addition, the Panama-California Exposition of 1935-1936 brought in architectural styles of the Aztecs, Southwest and Mexican pueblos to the park’s buildings.

• Memoirs of the region’s yesteryears are on display at the San Diego History Center. The museum showcases a variety of items and artifacts that trace the development of San Diego. Its research library contains extensive local historical resources, including the largest photograph collection in the western U.S. with over 2.5 million images.

• Before the Spanish explorers and Indian hunters, San Diego was home to dinosaurs and saber-toothed tigers. The San Diego Natural History Museum features a permanent exhibit, Fossil Mysteries, which animatedly tells the story of San Diego’s first inhabitants. Visitors can examine local fossils and hands-on exhibits that explain prehistoric lifestyles and locomotion.

• Many trees planted at the turn-of-the-century by Kate Sessions still stand today. Considered “the Mother of Balboa Park,” Sessions is the early designer of the park’s lush landscaping and a vital force for the park’s horticulture. To learn about the park and its history, a one-hour audio tour of the Park highlights the architectural heritage, rich history and botanical treasures. Other Balboa Park tours include an Architectural Heritage Tour, Offshoot Tour and Ranger-led Tour.

MILITARY HERITAGE

San Diego was established as a military center in the early 1900s and has grown to be one of the largest military complexes in the free world with over 11 Navy, Marine and Coast Guard installations. From the U.S. Navy's notable aviation achievements in Coronado, including the first successful seaplane flight in 1911, to the founding of Top Gun, the famous elite Navy Fighter training school formerly located at MCAS Miramar, San Diego County is home to a kaleidoscope of military legacies.

• The decommissioned USS Midway, the longest-serving aircraft carrier in U.S. Navy history, is now home to the USS Midway Museum. Berthed along San Diego Bay in downtown, highlights include flight simulator rides, story-telling docents (many of whom are Midway veterans), a self-guided tour with headphones and access to the ship’s mess desk, berthing spaces, flight deck and more.

• The Military History Exhibit at the Cabrillo National Monument reveals San Diego’s role in World War II. The building, an old Army radio station, features archival footage of the big guns in operation, period photographs and a 16-inch artillery shell.

• The nation’s only Marine Corps Aviation museum, the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, located at MCAS Miramar, houses aircraft dating from World War II to present, aviation art and memorabilia.

• The Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park houses a unique collection of military artifacts, memorabilia and papers and a library with more than 1,000 volumes of military books and documents. Its exhibits feature World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor, the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts, Desert Storm, Women in the Military and paintings of military subjects by local artists.

• San Diego proudly salutes its armed forces and military heritage each fall during Fleet Week San Diego where visitors have an opportunity to attend a number of special events, including the popular Miramar Air Show featuring the famous Blue Angels. ,

• The amphibious Sea and Land Adventures (SEAL) Tour travels on both land and water and provides colorful narration and close-up views of many of San Diego’s naval and military installments around San Diego Bay.

HISTORIC HOTELS

San Diego visitors can experience Old World charm with modern conveniences by staying in the region’s collection of historic hotels. From the country’s oldest wooden structure in Coronado to a Craftsman-style bed and breakfast in San Diego’s East County, these properties stand as public monuments to by-gone eras.

• The Britt Scripps Inn is a historic 1887 mansion in Banker’s Hill that was completely renovated and restored to authentically reflect the rich heritage of Victorian architecture, including a hand-carved oak staircase, period antiques and an original two-story stained glass window.

• Casa Bandini in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, home of one of San Diego’s first settlers, was reconstructed into The Cosmopolitan Hotel in 2010 after a multimillion-dollar restoration. Dating back to 1827, the property offers 10 guestrooms, an indoor and outdoor restaurant and meeting rooms; aspects of the original structure remain intact including a balcony around the building that once served as the perfect place to watch local bullfights. parks.oldtownsandiego

• Since 1888, the Hotel del Coronado has attracted numerous world dignitaries, Hollywood stars and the discriminating affluent with its unique red peaked roofs, stunning Victorian architecture and serene ocean vistas. A National Historic Landmark, the Del boasts antique beauty and historic charm with details like its original cage elevator, still hand-operated by an attendant.

• In 1906, John D. Spreckels, one of the original owners of the Hotel del Coronado, built a mansion home across the street from The Del. Now known as the Glorietta Bay Inn, the Edwardian mansion retains many of its original features, including chandeliers, ornate moldings, marble stairs and brass banisters.

• Once home to Wyatt Earp during his seven-year stay in San Diego, the Horton Grand Hotel, located in downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, is comprised of two hotels of the 1880s that were moved brick by brick from nearby locations and fitted together. All 108 rooms are outfitted with antiques, Victorian decor and fireplaces, and no two rooms are decorated alike.

• Originally opened in 1910 and built by Ulysses S. Grant Jr. to honor his Civil War hero father, THE US GRANT – A Luxury Collection Hotel is located at the foot of the historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. The historic property emphasizes its circa 1910 origins with gorgeous wood, marble and artistic décor. usgrant

• Perched atop La Jolla Cove, La Valencia Hotel has long delighted guests with its trademark pink façade, distinctive mosaic-tiled tower and close proximity to art galleries, boutiques and restaurants in the village of La Jolla. Since opening her doors in 1926, “The Pink Lady of La Jolla” has been a special hideaway for Hollywood’s most elite stars beginning with Groucho Marx, Lillian Gish and Mary Pickford. 

• The 1920s Craftsman-style Orchard Hill Country Inn is set upon four acres of gardens and trails on a hilltop overlooking Julian in San Diego’s East County.

HISTORIC HOMES

Nothing brings San Diego’s past to life better than a visit to the homes of its early residents. These animated antiques are full of stories tracing the lives of some of the region’s most prominent families.

• The Whaley House in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is one of only two officially designated haunted houses in California. Constructed in 1856 on a former gallows’ site, the house was once home to the Whaley family as well as San Diego’s first theater and the county courthouse. Among the legends and ghosts who are said to still haunt the house are a playmate of the Whaley children, a grand larcenist who fought to keep himself alive at the gallows and Mr. and Mrs. Whaley themselves.

• The Marston House in Balboa Park presents a vivid examination of an early Craftsman masterpiece. The 21-room, 6-bathroom mansion was custom built in 1905 for a department store manager and his family. Furniture and decorations from the Arts and Crafts movement fill the mansion’s interior; guided tours are offered on the weekends.

• The elaborate and vibrant Villa Montezuma is an 1887 gem located at the outskirts of downtown San Diego. This intricately designed Victorian was built in the Queen-Anne style with an asymmetrical floor plan, exuberant exteriors and several turrets and corner towers. Guided tours are offered on the weekends.

• Heritage Park in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is adorned with seven picturesque homes built during 1887-1910. These historic homes showcase the many styles of San Diego’s Victorian era; the oldest synagogue in the city, circa 1889, is also located in here. sdcounty.parks/heritage_park.html

Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San Diego’s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority’s website at . 

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The San Diego Tourism Authority is funded in part by the San Diego Tourism Marketing District with City of San Diego Tourism Marketing District Assessment Funds.

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