Landmarks

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse sits atop the end of Point Loma about 422 feet above sea level.? For 36 years, beginning in 1855, the light welcomed ships and sailors into San Diego Bay.? Built of local sandstone with a squat tower, the lighthouse was home it its keeper and his family as well as beacon. However, the lighthouse had one drawback, it was often lost in the fog swirling around the headland of Pt. Loma.?

Where California Got Its Start!

A little over an hour from San Diego, this quiet park is a haven for hikers and family campers. In the midst of a thick coniferous forest, it features a small campground and group camp, historic apple orchards and a trout pond.

Palomar Observatory is part of the California Institute of Technology, the well-known private educational and research institution located in Pasadena, California.? The Hale Telescope's mirror was cast at the Corning Glass Works in 1934 and then brought to California by rail for polishing and grinding.? Construction of its home on the top of Palomar Mountain was nearly finished in 1941 when World War II caused work to stop both on the building and the mirror.? Work resumed after the war and the mirror made its two-day journey up the mountain in November of 1947.?

PETCO Park is spectacular in every way, combining the best sight lines in baseball with breathtaking views of San Diego. Architecturally magnificent, it celebrates the sea, the sky, the natural beauty, cultural diversity and unique spirit of our region. Innovative design features evoke the timeless traditions of baseball in an intimate setting, with state-of-the-art fan amenities to suit every taste and budget.

Named after John Basilone, a U.S. Marine who received the Medal of Honor in the Battle of Guadalcanal in WWII and was nicknamed "Manila John," this memorial pays tribute to the soldiers that never came home during the wars of the 20th century. The open, public space has a bubbling fountain and chairs.

There are two lighthouses, actually - the old one which is now a historical monument and the newer one which still operates. The old lighthouse opened in November 1855, but was abandoned in 1891 because it was too far from the water. It was built by the Lighthouse Commission of the Federal Government, and was once the most popular historical monument in the country, according to historians. The light from the new lighthouse stretches more than 23 miles across the water.

The idea for Presidio Park was born in 1907 when E.W. Scripps, John D. Spreckels, George W. Marston and several other prominent locals began buying up land above Old Town. About $6,000 worth of land was eventually purchased to commemorate the old military fort that protected early San Diego. William Templeton Johnson was brought aboard as the architect with John Nolan as an advisor. The park provides the setting for grand views of the bay.

August 20, 1967 - the San Diego Chargers take the field to play their first game in the newly completed San Diego Stadium. Formerly the Los Angeles Chargers, owner Barron Hilton had been convinced by local sports writer Jack Murphy to move his team from the LA Coliseum to San Diego. Unfortunately, San Diego had no major league Stadium when the team moved here in 1961. Thus, Murphy's next challenge was to convince the City to build a stadium for their team. This was accomplished when Proposition 1 passed by a wide margin and $27.75 million was authorized to build a new state-of-the-art multi- purpose stadium with 53,000 seats.

This is one of the best-preserved ranchos in the area. Given to a Luiseno native by Pio Pico -- the last governor of Alta California -- as part of a 1,184-acre land grant, the property has changed ownership several times until the city claimed it in the late 1980s. The hacienda remains much like it did more than 150 years, save for the modern amenities that have been added.