Junipero Serra Museum and Presidio Park

The Junipero Serra Museum and Presidio Park sit on Presidio Hill at 2727 Presidio Drive in San Diego, California, overlooking Old Town and Mission Valley. This is the site where the Spanish established the first permanent European settlement on the West Coast in 1769, when a presidio, or fort, and the first mission were founded here by Gaspar de Portola's expedition and Father Junipero Serra. The mission moved up the valley in 1774, and the presidio remained a military and civilian outpost into the Mexican period before being abandoned in the 1830s. The museum building, a Spanish Colonial Revival landmark completed in 1929, was designed by architect William Templeton Johnson and funded by philanthropist George W. Marston, who also helped create the surrounding park. Its tile roof, arcades and tower evoke California's mission architecture, and the tower offers wide views. The museum is now operated by the San Diego History Center and presents exhibits on the Kumeyaay, the Spanish and Mexican eras, and later San Diego history, with archaeological finds from the presidio grounds. The interpretation is chronological and thematic, linking artifacts to the hill itself, and it has been updated in recent years to give greater place to Kumeyaay perspectives. Preservation has included seismic and structural work on the building and archaeological study of the foundations of the presidio, some of which are marked in the park. Presidio Park surrounds the museum with lawns, walking paths, a large cross memorial and the Mormon Battalion Monument area, and it is a popular spot for picnics. The museum has historically opened on limited days, generally Friday through Sunday, so visitors should confirm hours before arriving. Parking is available at the hilltop, and the museum is a short drive from the Old Town historic park.