Old Town State Historic Park is where the city of San Diego began. The original mission and presidio were nearby; the town developed below as retired soldiers and settlers built homes here. In the mid-1830s, Richard Henry Dana, Jr. described Old Town as "about forty dark brown looking huts.. and three or four larger ones, white-washed...". Today's Old Town recreates the setting of California life during the Mexican and early American periods, 1821-1872. It became an historic park in 1968. Three original adobes have been restored, the Casa de Estudillo, Machado y Stewart and Machado y Silvas. Buildings now house museums, shops and restaurants.
The Stars and Stripes was first raised over the plaza in 1846 by Marines from the U.S.S.
Location: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, plaque located W side of plaza at 4016 Wallace Street, San Diego
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