Original San Diego Mission Site

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Presidio Hill, site of the original San Diego Mission, is now topped by the Serra Museum. I can show you pictures of the outside of the museum but because the museum does not own all of the displays they do not allow photography inside the museum.

Serra Museum
Picture taken 2:10pm 23 Jul 2002

Picture taken 1:50pm 23 Jul 2002

Museum Dedication Plaque
Plaque at museum

Picture taken 1:50pm 23 Jul 2002

Down the hill from the museum and across the parking lot is the site of the original Indian village of Cosoy. This is where Blessed Serra planted the cross that signified the start of California settlement.

Cosoy location
Picture taken 2:10pm 23 Jul 2002

Picture taken 2:05pm 23 Jul 2002

Picture taken 2:05pm 23 Jul 2002

In this ancient Indian village of Cosoy, discovered and named San Miguel by Cabrillo in 1542, visited and cristened San Diego de Alcala by Vizcaino in 1602, here the first citizen
Fray Junipero Serra
planted civilization in California.
Here he first raised the cross - Here began the first Mission
Here founded the first town, San Diego, July 16, 1769.
In memory of him and his works the Order of Panama 1913.

The original bronze plaques replaced on July 16, 1969 and presented by Heffernan Institute No. 76, Catholic Young Ladies Institute. In honor of their golden jubilee (1916 - 1966)

A short distance from the brick cross is a memorial to all of the padres. It's a bronze statue titled "The Padre" by Arthur Putnam. It was give to the San Diego Historical Society by the descendents of E.W. Scripps.

The Padre Bronze
Picture taken 2:05pm 23 Jul 2002

Landmark

The original Mission site is marked with a landmark sign for the San Diego Presidio. It is found across the street from the lower parking lot below the Serra Museum. GPS 32°45'20"N 117°11'55"W.

Picture taken 2:15pm 23 Jul 2002

San Diego Presidio Site

Soldiers, sailors, Indians, and Franciscan missionaries from New Spain occupied the land at Presidio Hill on May 17, 1769 as a military outpost. Two months later Fr. Junipero Serra established the first San Diego Mission on Presidio Hill. Officially proclaimed a Spanish presidio on January 1, 1774, the fortress was later occupied by a succession of Mexican forces. The presidio was abandoned in 1837 after San Diego became a pueblo.

California Registered Historical Landmark No. 59

First registered Dec. 6, 1932. Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation and Squibob Chapter, E Clampus Vitus, August 8, 1992.

If you have not yet, now visit the main Mission site...

Navigation for Mission San Diego de Alcalá:

Mission Home :: History :: Map :: Asistencia :: First Mission :: Start Tour :: Church :: Garden :: Pieta Garden :: Museum :: Quadrangle