Historic San Diego

  1. A beach scene with people walking and relaxing near the ocean, overlaid with the orange "San Diego" logo and a sun graphic.
    The San Diego Archaeological Center curates millions of artifacts documenting 10, 000 years of regional history. The Center also offer educational programming for all ages. Please see our webiste for current information about exhibits, programs and volunteer opportunities. In 1998, the San Diego Archaeological Center took on a formidable task...
  2. A group of five people poses for a photo in front of a large colorful mural reading "U.S. Naval Training Station.
    Led by longtime local and expert guide Jennifer, San Diego Walks offers lively, small-group walking tours through some of the city's most iconic & historic neighborhoods, including Balboa Park, Old Town, Coronado & Liberty Station. Each tour blends fascinating history, architecture, and hidden gems with a relaxed, friendly vibe. Whether...
  3. Large Maya stone monuments are displayed in a museum hall, with colorful murals of people and informational panels in the background.
    The Museum of Us is a place for the diverse stories that define us—all of us! Located in Balboa Park on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Kumeyaay people, our mission is to inspire human connections by exploring the human experience and support guests in becoming agents of positive change...
  4. A historic building with a central tower and palm trees wrapped in string lights, illuminated at night with a tall modern building in the background.
    Through the restoration of San Diego's Old Police Headquarters, the city has reclaimed a majestic urban treasure by offering an extraordinary new experience; a delightful destination where restaurants on the order of Puesto & Eddie V's and specialty boutiques such as Walter Redondo Fine Art can make a lasting impression...
  5. A large illuminated cross stands on a raised platform, surrounded by a fence, against a starry night sky.
    Since 1954, the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial has been honoring veterans from the Revolutionary War to the current war on terror at the top of San Diego's iconic coastal peak of Mt. Soledad. From the Memorial, you can experience the breathtaking 360-degree views of San Diego. Beneath a 29-foot...
  6. A historic white wooden building with red trim stands behind a stone marker with a plaque, set in a dry, rural landscape under a clear sky.
    Built in 1857, the Warner-Carrillo Ranch House served as the Butterfield Stage Stop and was California's first regular overland stage connection with St. Louis. With its multilayered history, the adobe ranch house tells the story of the emigrant trail, the overland stage, and the prominent ranching history of the area...
  7. Vintage general store interior with wooden floors, shelves of goods, a potbelly stove, wicker chairs, and a glass display case. Light streams in from a window on the right.
    The historic Santa Ysabel General Store, an iconic landmark, is now open for business with an innovative dual purpose. Dating from 1884, the store is now being restored, bringing a unique emporium brimming with heirloom and artisanal foodstuffs, back-to-nature gifts, wares for home and garden, and books and guides for...
  8. San Diego is your game board. Are you ready to play? Experience the ORIGINAL Amazing Race–style scavenger hunt — often imitated, never duplicated. Urban Adventure Quest transforms downtown San Diego or Balboa Park into a self-paced, clue-solving adventure that blends sightseeing, strategy, and just the right amount of friendly competition...
  9. A young girl in a pink shirt sits on a chair and holds up a painted rubber duck, looking at the camera.
    The Barona Cultural Center & Museum is dedicated to preserving the Native American culture and history of San Diego County. With more than 3,000 artifacts, listening alcoves, photographic displays, and archives, the museum's historic treasures unfold many fascinating and inspiring stories of the Kumeyaay/Diegueño experience. As San Diego County's only...