Old Town State Historic
Park Overview
Location: Old Town San Diego, CA (map)
Phone: (619) 220-5422
More info: Website
Hours
Visitor Center & Museums
10am to 5pm daily
Admission is free
Museums closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day
Retail Shops & Restaurants
10am - 7pm, hours may vary
Tours
Daily 11 am & 2 pm
Begins at the Robinson-Rose Visitor Center.
Educational Tours are also offered with reservation. Click here for more information.
Living History Activities
Wednesdays & Saturdays
10 am - 4 pm
State Park Highlights
San Diego’s pioneer past comes alive at the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The park allows visitors to experience the history of early San Diego between 1821 – 1872 as the city evolved from a Mexican pueblo to an American settlement.
Visitors can tour renovated historic sites to get a glimpse of the architecture, culture and life during this exciting period of change and growth.
Even today, history pervades this part of San Diego where life moves more slowly and period costumes are a common sight. The core of restored original historic buildings from the interpretive period are complemented by reconstructed sites, along with early twentieth century buildings designed in the same mode.
The Historic Plaza remains a gathering place for community events and historic activity.
Five original adobe buildings are part of the historic park, which includes museums, unique retail shops, and several restaurants.
Tourists can view La Casa de Estudillo, a mansion built around a garden courtyard. Next, they can discover La Casa de Machado y Stewart and all the artifacts within that reflect ordinary life of the period.
Some of the other historic buildings visitors will enjoy include the Mason Street School, California's first public schoolhouse, La Casa de Machado y Silvas, the San Diego Union Printing Office (site of the city's oldest surviving newspaper office), and the first brick courthouse.
The Seeley Stables Museum boasts a newly rehabilitated exhibit on overland transportation and houses a large collection of wagons and carriages.
The parks lends an authentic feel to this trip back in time in a number of ways. Visitors can chat with the local blacksmith while he works in his shop, listen to music, see or touch the park's burros and engage in the same activities their ancestors experienced over one hundred years ago as San Diego was just being formed.
Old Town State Historic Park is a destination for adults and children alike. Anyone who has an interest in where San Diego came from will be well satisfied with their trip to the park.
