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Photo: Dmadeo, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The first of the Spanish California missions, founded in 1769 by Junipero Serra for the purposes of converting the native peoples who lived in the area at the time. In its long history, the mission has been the site of the first Christian burial and the first execution in California, saw bloodshed between the Spanish settlers and native peoples, and served as an armory in the years following U.S. annexation of California before being restored to an active church in 1941. Today, Mission San Diego is an active Catholic parish and a museum dedicated to the history of the mission. Tour the site, with its gardens, museum, and the original chapel.
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá was the second Franciscan-founded mission in the Californias, a province of New Spain. Located in present-day San Diego, California, it was founded on July 16, 1769, by Spanish friar Junípero Serra, in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay people. The current church, built in the early 19th century, is the fifth to stand on this location. The mission site is a National Historic Landmark.
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Opened in September 2022 on the former site of San Diego Stadium as the new home of the San Diego State Aztecs college football team. The women's soccer team San Diego Wave FC (see below) and men's rugby team San Diego Legion (also below) also play here, and the city's team in Major League Soccer, San Diego FC, will start play here in 2025.
NCAA Division I teams representing the University of San Diego. The basketball team plays their home games at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the USD campus. The Toreros college baseball team plays at Cunningham Stadium and their college football team plays at Torero Stadium (both also on the USD campus). USD competes in the West Coast Conference in most sports; since the WCC doesn't sponsor football, the Toreros play that sport in the Pioneer Football League.
Take the time to visit the historic site of what used to be the first ever California Mission, located in Presidio Park on the hill above Old Town. The museum includes exhibits on the life of Old Town and a tower which offers magnificent views of the area.
A park in Old Town ringed with historic Victorian houses.
A monument to the hundreds of Mormons who fought in the US-Mexican War.
Learn the history of the San Diego Sheriff's Department.