San Diego history

Considered the birthplace of California, San Diego was discovered by explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542. Father Junipero Serra, a Spanish missionary established the first of several Catholic missions on a grassy knoll beside the Presidio, the Spaniards' fort and settlement. The Presidio remains a testament to San Diego's Spanish origins. The Fort's whitewashed walls, tiled roofs and manicured gardens reflect the vernacular architecture found in much of contemporary Southern California.