Finding History

In 1542, the Portuguese-born explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, sailing for Spain, claimed San Diego Bay for the Spanish Empire, and named the site San Miguel. In November 1602, Sebastián Vizcaíno surveyed the harbor and what are now Mission Bay and Point Loma and named the area for Saint Didacus, a Spaniard more commonly known as San Diego. 

European settlement began with the founding of the San Diego Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá by the Spanish in 1769. This aread was part of Alta California under the Viceroyalty of New Spain until the Mexican declaration of independence. From 1821 through 1848 this area was part of Mexico.

San Diego County became part of the United States as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, ending the U.S.-Mexican War.

During the latter part of the 19th century, there were numerous changes in the boundaries of San Diego County, when various areas became separated for the counties mentioned above. San Diego no longer extended from the Pacific Ocean to the Colorado River, and it no longer covered the entire border between California and Mexico.

#49: Adobe Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
#50: Ballast Point Whaling Station Site
#51: Old Point Loma Lighthouse
#52: Mission Dam and Flume
#53: Casa de Estudillo
#54: Fort Stockton
#55: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
#56: Cabrillo Landing Site
#57: La Punta de los Muertos
#59: San Diego Presidio Site
#60: Casa de Lopez
#61: Old La Playa
#62: Fort Rosecrans
#63: Plaza, San Diego Viejo (Washington Square)
#64: Old Landing, Site of El Desembarcadero
#65: Whaley House
#66: Congress Hall Site
#67: Serra Palm (Site)
#68: El Campo Santo
#69: Site of Fort Guijarros
#70: Casa de Pedrorena
#71: Casa de Machado
#72: Casa de Bandini
#73: Casa de Stewart
#74: Casa de Carrillo
#75: Site of Casa de Cota
#239: Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
#242: Mission San Diego de Alcala
#243: Asistencia San Antonio de Pala
#244: Derby Dike
#304: Vallecito Stage Depot (Station)
#311: Warner’s Ranch
#369: Chapel of Santa Ysabel (Site of)
#411: Campo Stone Store
#412: Julian
#425: La Canada de los Coches Rancho
#452: Mule Hill

#472: Box Canyon
#482: Camp Wright
#491: The Exchange Hotel
#502: Oak Grove Stage Station
#523: San Diego Barracks
#533: San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park
#538: First Publicly Owned School Building
#562: La Christianita
#616: Las Flores Assistencia
#626: Bancroft Ranch House
#634: El Vado
#635: Los Puertecitos
#639: Palm Springs
#647: Butterfield Overland Mail Route
#673: San Gregorio
#711: Montgomery Memorial
#750: Peg Leg Smith Monument
#764: Site of the Kate O. Sessions Nursery
#784: El Camino Real
#785: Santa Catarina
#793: San Felipe Valley and Stage Station
#798: San Diego State College, First Doctoral Degree Granted
#818: First Military Flying School in America
#830: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
#844: Hotel Del Coronado
#858: Pedro Fages Trail
#891: Spanish Landing
#940: Rancho Guajome
#982: Historic Planned Community of Rancho Santa Fe
#1020: Leo Carrillo Ranch (Rancho de los Kiotes)
#1023: National City Depot Transcontinental Railroad
#1026: Santa Margarita Ranch House
#1030: Star of India
#1031: Ferryboat Berkeley
#1042: USS Recruit
#1044: Giant Dipper Roller Coaster
#1045: Camp Lockett