Old Town in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Father Antonio Ubach

Last of the Padres

— 1835 – 1907 —

Father Antonio Ubach Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, November 28, 2005

1. Father Antonio Ubach Marker

Inscription. Antonio Dominic Ubach, passionate advocate for California Native Americans, and defender of Indian rights, ran St. Anthony’s Indian School on this site from 1856 to 1891. Father Ubach, created programs to help hundreds of Indian children adapt to an American society. He lobbied government to protect the Indians and their lands and was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant to lead official missions of State. Father Ubach was immortalized in Helen Hunt Jackson’s 1884 novel Ramona as the fictional character Father Gaspara. The landmark book focused national attention on the plight of the Native Americans in California. An accomplished scholar, poet and swordsman, he left Spain for America in 1855 to devote his life to religious duty for over a half century. Considered to be the last of the Padres, he was beloved and respected by all for his tireless charitable work. His funeral in 1907 was attended by thousands of San Diego citizens, settlers and Indians whose lives he touched. True to his character, his last words were “have charity.”

Erected by Historic Tours of America - National Storytellers.

Topics.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Education • Government & Politics • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 32° 45.209′ N, 117° 11.759′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in Old Town. It is at the intersection of San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street, on the right when traveling south on San Diego Avenue. Marker is located at the entrance to Don Aguirre Adobe site, which now houses a retail business and a small museum, at the San Diego Avenue-Twiggs Street entrance to the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Diego CA 92110, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges.

It is also in the American Borderlands

and on the Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once

Photographed by Syd Whittle, November 28, 2005

2. Father Antonio Ubach Marker

New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Old Town San Diego (here, next to this marker); Don Antonio Aguirre (here, next to this marker); Adobe Construction (within shouting distance of this marker); Original Foundation Casa de Aguirre (within shouting distance of this marker); Birthplace of The San Diego Union (within shouting distance of this marker); Birthplace of the San Diego Union (within shouting distance of this marker); 1906 Old Town Convent (within shouting distance of this marker); Casa de Pedrorena de Altamirano (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.

Father Antonio Ubach image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, November 28, 2005

3. Father Antonio Ubach

Father Ubach Marker is on the right. The Don Antonio Aguirre marker is on the left. On the far right of the photo is an Old Town San Diego Site Map

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 29, 2015

4. Father Antonio Ubach

Photographed by Wikipedia

5. Father Antonio Ubach

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 29, 2015

6. Father Antonio Ubach

Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,632 times since then and 158 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 21, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 2, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.