Junipero Serra Museum, San Diego

Junipero Serra Museum, San Diego

The Junípero Serra Museum, situated in Presidio Park, stands as one of San Diego's most recognizable landmarks. It holds great significance as a prominent symbol of the city, perched atop a hill that marks the birthplace of California. Constructed between 1928 and 1929, the Serra Museum was designed by architect William Templeton Johnson in the Spanish Revival style. Its purpose was to serve as a home for the collection of The San Diego History Center, which was founded in 1928.

The Junípero Serra Museum, home to the San Diego History Center, is undergoing an exciting renovation. The new exhibition explores San Diego's earliest history, from indigenous inhabitants to settlers who adapted to the arid climate by transforming the river.

The updated exhibit showcases the Presidio as San Diego and California's original European settlement. It functioned as a military garrison from 1769 to 1835, providing shelter for soldiers, families, craftsmen, Indian workers, prisoners, and other settlers. The exhibit sheds light on the diverse groups who faced the challenges of the environment, and visitors can observe the Presidio and the Kumeyaay settlement of Kosaii.

The Junípero Serra Museum offers weekend walking tours exploring the buried remains of the Presidio de San Diego. Learn about its historical significance, from ancient times to the present, and discover its unique environment's allure. Archaeologists and historians provide insights into the structures and buildings that once stood.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Diego. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Junipero Serra Museum on Map

Sight Name: Junipero Serra Museum
Sight Location: San Diego, USA (See walking tours in San Diego)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in San Diego, California

Create Your Own Walk in San Diego

Create Your Own Walk in San Diego

Creating your own self-guided walk in San Diego is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Balboa Park Walking Tour

Balboa Park Walking Tour

Named after the Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Balboa Park is one of the largest cultural parks in the United States. A renowned cultural and recreational hub, it offers a plethora of attractions and activities for visitors of all ages.

One of the prominent landmarks within the park is the California Building and Tower, which boasts stunning Spanish-Colonial Revival architecture....  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Embarcadero Marina Walking Tour

Embarcadero Marina Walking Tour

Adjacent to downtown San Diego and the picturesque San Diego Bay is a vibrant waterfront area. Embarcadero Marina, a testament to the region's colorful maritime heritage, houses several outstanding ship museums and is home to other notable sites. The abundance of shopping and dining options, complete with the pristine views of the city skyline, delight numerous locals and tourists and make...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Old Town Walking Tour

Old Town Walking Tour

Old Town is the oldest settled area in San Diego which claims to be the first site visited by Europeans on the West Coast of modern United States.

The Native American culture in the area, however, goes back thousands of years. Historically, this land had been a home to the Kumeyaay people who settled on the banks of the San Diego river since around 1000 AD. The first European explorer to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Historic Gaslamp District Walking Tour

Historic Gaslamp District Walking Tour

The Gaslamp Quarter is a lively 16½-block neighborhood in downtown San Diego, known for its nightlife, diverse entertainment and, just as importantly, historical appeal.

Back in the 1860s, the area was known as New Town, in contrast to Old Town, the original Spanish colonial settlement. After a period of decay, the neighborhood underwent redevelopment during the 1980s and 1990s, and was...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


Souvenir Shopping Guide: 14 Gifts That Say San Diego

Souvenir Shopping Guide: 14 Gifts That Say San Diego

San Diego is known for its beautiful, temperate climate, but you can’t take the weather home with you. If you want a piece of San Diego as a souvenir, it’s best to shop with the natives. Whether it is made locally or just made famous locally, following are 14 perfect gifts that capture the...