Old Town in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
El Campo Santo
(The Holy Field)
Photographed by Craig Baker, March 17, 2026
1. El Campo Santo Marker
El Campo Santo once included The Adobe Chapel on Conde Street, in which is buried Jose Antonio Aguirre and where funeral services were held for Maria Victoria Dominguez Estrillo, Cave Johnson Couts, and many distinguished early San Diegans, between 1849 and 1897. 477 persons were buried in these grounds. Antonio Garra was the most eminent of many Native Americans interred here. A number of graves were relocated after 1874. A street railway bisected the cemetery in 1894. The wall around this portion was built in 1933. Restoration has continued to the present.
Erected 1994 by State Department of Recreation, San Diego City Department of Parks and Recreation, and Squibob Chapter E. Clampus Vitus. (Marker Number 68.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.
Location. 32° 45.093′ N, 117° 11.598′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in Old Town. It can be reached from San
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Gravedigger of Old Town (a few steps from this marker); Adobe Chapel of The Immaculate Conception (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Verna House (about 500 feet away); Old Town San Diego Timeline (about 600 feet away); James "Yankee Jim" Robinson (about 600 feet away); The Whaley House (about 600 feet away); Derby Dike (about 600 feet away); Lt. George H. Derby (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.
More about this marker. This site is California Historical Landmark No. 68, registered December 6, 1932.
Also see . . .
1. USGW Archives: El Campo Santo Cemetery. (Submitted on September 22, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)
2. Find-A-Grave: El Campo Santo. (Submitted on September 22, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)
3. Atlas Obscura website. (Submitted on October 27, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
4. San Diego Ghosts: El Campo Santo Ghost Stories. (Submitted on September 22, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)
Photographed by Craig Baker, March 17, 2026
2. El Campo Santo Marker and Cemetery
Photographed by Craig Baker, March 17, 2026
3. Grave Site
Small markers along the sidewalk and in the street show gravesites covered by street widening.
courtesy Seeks Ghosts
4. El Campo Santo
Photographed by Seeks Ghosts, Unknown
5. El Campo Santo
Photographed by Syd Whittle, November 28, 2005
6. Street Sign
Photographed by Syd Whittle, November 28, 2005
7. "Jesus"
Died December 1879 - 25 Years.
Excerpt from the Book of the Dead: "December 15, 1879, I have given ecclesiatical burial to Jesus Indian; 25 years, who died of a blow without receiving sacraments. They told me that he was completely drunk, and thus I command him to be buried near the gate of the cemetery" Signed: Juan Pujol, Priest.
Excerpt from the Book of the Dead: "December 15, 1879, I have given ecclesiatical burial to Jesus Indian; 25 years, who died of a blow without receiving sacraments. They told me that he was completely drunk, and thus I command him to be buried near the gate of the cemetery" Signed: Juan Pujol, Priest.
Photographed by Syd Whittle, November 28, 2005
8. "Yankee Jim"
James W. Robinson, who was known as “Yankee Jim,” suffered the extreme penalty for stealing the only rowboat in San Diego Bay. The verdict of the jury was as follows: "Your jurors in the within case of James W. Robinson have the honor to return the verdict of guilty and do therefore sentence him, James Robinson, to be hanged by the neck until dead. Cave C. Couts, Foreman of the Jury” The poor fellow could not believe that he was to be hanged until the very last moment. He appeared to think it all a grim joke or, at the worst, a serious effort to impress him with enormity of his evil ways. He was still talking when the Deputy Sheriff gave the signal. Then the cart was driven from beneath him, and he was left dangling in the air. Surely, the punishment was far more wicked than the crime, yet the example must have proved effective in discouraging theft. Yankee Jim converted to the Roman Catholic Church prior to his death, thus his baptismal name of Santiago (Spanish for James). His Godfather was Philip Crosthwaite, the Deputy Sheriff who gave the signal for the execution.
Photographed by Syd Whittle, November 28, 2005
9. Bill Marshall and Juan Verdugo
December 13, 1851 - Hanged.
Bill Marshall was an American man married to the daughter of a local Indian Chieftain. He was a renegade sailor from Providence, Rhode Island, who deserted from a whaling ship at San Diego in 1844. He had taken up habitation with the Indians. He took an active part in the Garra Indian Uprising in 1851. Bill Marshall and the Indian, Juan Verduga, were caught and brought back to San Diego to be promptly tried by court martial. Marshall was found guilty and thus sentenced to hang, as was Juan Verdugo. The Indian acknowledged his guilt, but Marshall insisted he was innocent. At two oclock in the afternoon, a scaffold was erected near the old Catholic Cemetery, (El Campo Santo), on the Thomas Whaley property. The men were put on a wagon and the ropes adjusted about their necks. The wagon moved on, leaving the two to dangle to death.
Bill Marshall was an American man married to the daughter of a local Indian Chieftain. He was a renegade sailor from Providence, Rhode Island, who deserted from a whaling ship at San Diego in 1844. He had taken up habitation with the Indians. He took an active part in the Garra Indian Uprising in 1851. Bill Marshall and the Indian, Juan Verduga, were caught and brought back to San Diego to be promptly tried by court martial. Marshall was found guilty and thus sentenced to hang, as was Juan Verdugo. The Indian acknowledged his guilt, but Marshall insisted he was innocent. At two oclock in the afternoon, a scaffold was erected near the old Catholic Cemetery, (El Campo Santo), on the Thomas Whaley property. The men were put on a wagon and the ropes adjusted about their necks. The wagon moved on, leaving the two to dangle to death.
Photographed by Syd Whittle
10. Gravedigger of Old Town
See nearby marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 3,885 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 17, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4, 5. submitted on October 27, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 6. submitted on October 19, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 7, 8, 9. submitted on September 22, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 10. submitted on October 19, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.
