California’s Birth Place

 

 

Old Town San Diego, Cosmopolitan Hotel in background

Living History Demonstrations

 

La Casa de Estudillo

We spent an afternoon in San Diego visiting “Old Town” and the Presidio overlooking what is considered the Birthplace of California.  San Diego became the first permanent Spanish settlement in California in 1769.  Father Junipero Serra came to establish his first mission on the hillside or presidio; thereafter a small Mexican community of adobe buildings formed in the 1820’s at the base of the hill.  A Mexican military command arrived in 1822 at San Diego after Mexico had gained its independence from Spain the previous year.  The small settlement initially consisted of the nearby military garrison, the mission (which moved later six miles inland), and the port where ships stopped to trade for supplies.  By 1825 adobes were built below Presidio Hill and formed a rough but orderly street pattern around an open plaza.  Two of the finest structures, begun in 1827 still stand.  In 1846 when the American Flag was raised over the town, its population numbered 250 people and was incorporated as a city in 1850.  Today, part of Old Town is a State Historic Park made up of restored and reconstructed buildings housing museums, shops, and living history demonstrations by folks dressed in period costume depicting life during the 1821 to 1872 period.  A blacksmith’s shop, general store, stagecoach barn, tobacco shop, and hotel are among a characterized Old Town San Diego.  The Cosmopolitan Hotel was originally a one-story adobe, the home of Don Juan Bandini, a Spanish gentleman and American patriot.  Thought to have been built early in the 19th century, this adobe was the headquarters of Commodore Robert Stockton in 1846.  The building was purchased around 1869 by Alfred Seeley, who added a second story to establish a hotel.  An earilier period home, La Casa de Estudillo, was the highlight of our visit.  This home belonged to Capitan Jose Estudillo, a retired San Diego Presidio Comandante (fort commander).  He began construction of the casa in 1827 on a parcel of land granted to him by Mexican Governor Jose Echeandia.  The 3-5 foot thick walls are made of sun-baked adobe bricks built on large river cobble foundations.  Upon Jose Estudillo’s death in 1830, construction of the house continued under the direction of his son and his wife.  Jose Estudillo held many public offices in San Diego and he along with other family members acquired extensive land holdings in the county, including several Ranchos.  The family descendants moved to Los Angeles in 1887 and left the house with a caretaker.  The Estudillo house was later restored under the supervision of architect Hazel Waterman around 1908.  The casa became part of the California State Park system in 1968 and is furnished with representative items from the 16^th to 20^th century.  After visiting Old Town, we drove up to the Junipero Serra Museum on Presidio Hill.  The museum was built 1926-1929, designed in the architectural style of an early California mission.  It stands on the site where Father Serra built his very first mission and showcases furniture, tools, and housewares from the Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and American periods through 1929.



La Casa de Estudillo

Thick Adobe Walls of La Casa de Estudillo



Junipero Serra Museum