Audio Guide: Old Town Walking Tour (Self Guided), San Diego

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 arrive in the region was Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. Upon landing at what he named "San Miguel" (today's San Diego Bay), Cabrillo claimed it for Spain in 1542, thus forming the basis for the settlement of Alta California 200 years later.

The neighborhood is also frequently referred to as the "Birthplace of California" because in 1769 Gaspar de Portolá and Father Junípero Serra established here a military outpost San Diego Presidio and then the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, being the first permanent European settlements in California.

In 1821, San Diego became part of the newly declared Mexican Empire, which two years later reformed as the First Mexican Republic. In 1834, the Mexican government granted San Diego the status of a chartered town, during which period it was the commercial and governmental hub of the region.

Mexico’s rule ended in 1846, and in 1850, following the Mexican–American War, California became part of the United States. That same year, San Diego, which was still largely limited to the Old Town area, was incorporated as a city, with the population of just 650!

The Old Town remained the heart of San Diego until the 1860s, and in the 1910s became one of the city's many neighborhoods. Today, most of it is a State Historic Park.

There are 27 historic buildings and sites within the area, including the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant, the Old Town Market, and the Mormon Battalion Visitor Center. Five original adobe buildings are part of the complex, including Johnson House, a reconstructed mid-19th century office building; an 1827 Casa de Estudillo; and Whaley House, an 1857 Greek Revival-style residence.

Among other historic locations of note is Mason Street School, the first public schoolhouse in San Diego, as well as several museums such as McCoy House Museum and Colorado House, featuring a reconstructed 19th-century stage stop and telegraph office.

If you wish to connect with the past and learn more about California’s long and eventful history, from the days of Mexican rule onwards, come to Old Town San Diego. Our self-guided walking tour will help you discover some of the most beautiful and iconic heritage sights in this charming part of city.