Old Town in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Site with Many Cultures
Un Sitio de Muchas Culturas
| — | San Diego River View Exhibit | — |
Photographed by Sean C Bath, February 10, 2023
1. Site with Many Cultures Marker
For thousands of years, the Kumeyaay had called today's Mission Valley home. With the contact of Spanish explorers and establishment of the Mission San Diego de Alcalá by Father Junípero Serra on July 16, 1769, the course of history was changed forever, and modern California and San Diego were born.
This site has passed from control by the native peoples to Spanish, Mexican, and American rule. Each group has continued to the present, becoming key parts of the tapestry of San Diego's modern cultures. The San Diego River has been a key resource, providing food and water to each succeeding user.
Presidio Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Junípero Serra Museum is operated by the San Diego History Center.
Este sitio pasó
this page online
El parque Presidio está incluido en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos y el Museo Junípero Serra es operado por el Centro de Historia de San Diego.
Today's Mission Valley began to take shape in the 1950s when environmentalists lost to developers with construction of Altas Hotels and May Company Shopping Center. San Diego (Qualcomm) Stadium was added in the 1960s.
El área de Mission Valley en la actualidad comenzó a tomar forma en la década de 1950 cuando los ambientalistas perdieron la batalla ante los desarrolladores con la construcción de los Hoteles Atlas y el centro comercial de la May Company. El Estadio de San Diego (Qualcomm) se agregó en la década de 1960.
The headwaters begin 52 miles to the east in the Cuyamaca Mountains near Julian. The San Diego River Watershed covers 440 square
Photographed by Sean C Bath, February 10, 2023
2. Site with Many Cultures Marker
This mission was moved 6 miles inland from the Presidio near the native village of Nipaguay and closer to the river to provde more water for crops and to separate the Presidio soldiers and Indians.
Esta misión se trasladó 6 millas tierra adentro desde el Presidio, ubicado cerca del pueblo original de Nipaguay, a una distancia más cerca del río para proporcionar un mayor suministro de agua para los cultivos, y para mantener a los soldados del Presidio separados de los indios. Sitio actual de la Vieja Presa de la Misión (Old Mission Dam).
Development in Mission Valley and efforts to preserve and enhance the environment led to the creation of the San Diego River Conservancy, a California state agency, and the non-profit San Diego River Park Foundation. Plans for a park along the river were approved by the city in 2013.
El desarrollo de Mission Valley y los esfuerzos por preservar y mejorar el medio ambiente llevaron a la creación de la San Diego River Conservancy, una dependencia
Photographed by Sean C Bath, February 10, 2023
3. Site with Many Cultures Marker
The San Diego River in Mission Valley served as a source of food and water to both the native Kumeyaay as well as the Spanish and American settlers who would follow. For much of the first century of San Diego, Mission Valley was a pastoral setting of dairy farms.
El Río San Diego, ubicado en Mission Valley, sirvió como fuente de alimento y agua tanto para la tribu Kumiai original como para los colonizadores españoles y norteamericanos que llegaron después. Durante gran parte del primero siglo de San Diego, Mission Valley fue un entorno campestre conformado por granjas lecheras.
The San Diego River has flooded throughout history. One of the most devastating floods was in 1916 when 20 days of rain cut San Diego off from the rest of the state. Rainmaker Charles Hatfield was both credited and blamed for the torrential downpour.
El Río San Diego ha causado inundaciones a lo largo de la historia. Una de las más devastadoras inundaciones sucedió
Photographed by Sean C Bath, February 10, 2023
4. Site with Many Cultures Marker
A prominent landmark in San Diego, Mount Soledad rises 822 feet above sea level.
Un importante punto de referencia en San Diego, Mount Soledad se eleva 822 pies sobre el nivel del mar.
Originally called False Bay, it was an environmentally rich marsh and tidelands. Mission Bay was enlarged by dredging from 1949 through the 1960s.
Originalmente llamada False Bay, esta bahía estaba conformada por marimas y terrenos mareales ambientalmente muy ricos. Mission Bay se fue ampliando al ser continuamente dragada de 1949 hasta la década de 1960.
The course of the San Diego River changed over the course of the millennia based on flooding, much of the time flowing into San Diego Bay instead of its present course into Mission (False) Bay. Lt. George Derby of the Army Corps of Engineers constructed the first dike to prevent the river from flowing into San Diego Bay in 1853.
El curso de Río San Diegofue
Photographed by Sean C Bath, February 10, 2023
5. Site with Many Cultures Marker
This ancient native site was located at the base of Presidio Hill near a watering place close to the banks of the San Diego River.
Este antiguo sitio nativo americano se encuentra en la base de Presidio Hill, cerca de un abrevadero a orillas del Río San Diego.
On September 28, 1542, Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo became the first European to visit San Diego Bay.
El explorador español Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo se convirtió en el primer europeo en visitar la Bahía de San Diego el 28 de septiembre de 1542.
Funding for this exhibition is provided by the San Diego River Conservancy and State Coastal Conservancy through Proposition 84 the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006.
Erected by
Photographed by Sean C Bath, February 10, 2023
6. Site with Many Cultures Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 32° 45.601′ N, 117° 11.606′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in Old Town. It can be reached from Presidio Drive north of Cosoy Way, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2727 Presidio Dr, San Diego CA 92110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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 Mexico’s Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Junipero Serra Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); George White Marston (within shouting distance of this marker); San Diego Presidio Site (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fray Junipero Serra (about 400 feet away); Sylvester Pattie (about 500 feet away); Derby Dike (approx. 0.2 miles away); La Playa Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Serra Palm (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.
More about this marker. The marker is at the north end of the Junípero Serra Museum building.
Additional keywords. San Diego River View, Junípero Serra
Photographed by Craig Baker, March 10, 2026
7. Site with Many Cultures Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, March 10, 2026
8. Site with Many Cultures Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, March 10, 2026
9. Site with Many Cultures Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, March 10, 2026
10. Site with Many Cultures Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, March 10, 2026
11. Site with Many Cultures Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, March 10, 2026
12. Site with Many Cultures Marker
The marker is in the background at far left.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2023, by Sean C Bath of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 313 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 21, 2023, by Sean C Bath of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on March 18, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
