Old Town San Diego

San Diego is the oldest of the Spanish Colonial settlements along the Californa coast. It was one of the first settled in 1769, relatively late considering the original Spanish settlements date from the early 1500s in Central and South America. By the time the United States got around to taking an interest in the west coast of North America, the Spanish has established a string of missions all along the coast. My own family's involvement in this state of affairs occurred when the United States entered into the Mexican-American War in 1846. Some of my ancestors were part of the famous Mormon Battalion that marched across the country to San Diego to solidify U.S. claims to California. There is a Visitor's Center maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is adjacent to Old Town San Diego.