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SAN DIEGO
Old Town San Diego
San Diego was California’s first permanent European settlement, and
students can learn about its history during a visit to Old Town San Diego
State Historic Park in the heart of the city.
Living history programs take visitors back to the early Mexican-
American period of 1821 through 1872. The state’s first schoolhouse,
the old San Diego Union newspaper office, the first courthouse and
other historic institutions can be found in Old Town, which is considered
the birthplace of California.
Groups can take the True Stories of Old Town tour, a guided walk
revealing unique stories that detail the Spanish colonization, the
Native Americans, the Mexicans, the Americans and their relationships
that shaped early San Diego. After the daily tour, which starts at the
Robinson-Rose Visitor Center, they can also explore the Old Town’s
restored buildings that are now museums, restaurants and shops.
Weekly park events include blacksmithing and woodworking
demonstrations, soap making, popular dances of the 1800s, spinning
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NTA Trip Planner for Student Travel
and weaving, historic newspaper printing and tintype photography. A
number of annual festivals also take place at Old Town.
To learn more, contact Albert Navarro of the San Diego Tourism
Authority at [email protected] or visit sandiego.org.
TOP EDUCATIONAL ATTRACTIONS
The Maritime Museum of San Diego, Birch Aquarium at Scripps,
USS Midway Museum
TOP RECREATIONAL ATTRACTIONS
Balboa Park, Belmont Park
TOP LOCAL FESTIVALS
Old Town San Diego Dia De Los Muertos (Oct. 28–29 and Nov. 2, 2017),
Chicano Park Day (April 2018), San Diego Earth Fair (April 2018)