San Diego Mission Site

Location

San Diego Mission
10818 San Diego Mission Road
San Diego, CA 92124
west side of visitor's parking lot

Significance

Site of California's First Mission. Junipero Serra founded the Mission San Diego de Alcala on July 16, 1769.

Status of the Marker

The marker is still standing (refurbished).

La Playa Trail's
Fifth Historical Marker

The fifth La Playa Trail Marker, dedicated on June 10, 1934 at the Mission San Diego, was underwritten by the San Diego Historical Society and Court San Diego de Acala No. 1099, Catholic Daughters of America. The monument was draped with an American Flag and unveiled by Right Reverend Monsignor John M. Hagarty, assisted by members of local boy scout Troop #54. Speakers included Mrs. Mary O'Neil, Justice W.J. Collard, Mrs. Anna Demuth, and Albert V. Mayhofer. Mayhofer noted:

"Remember that the old Mission is San Diego's greatest heritage from the past. Remember that it stands for all that is beautiful in San Diego history and that it's restoration means the perpetuation of the glories of San Diego's history for uncounted years in the future. The day is approaching when we of San Diego will be proud of the old mission, not as a monument to the past but as an abiding image of the present glory and future greatness of our own beautiful city, San Diego, the mother of California."

Coincidentally Will Rodgers that week wrote his syndicated column as a bit of a paean to Father Serra.

In the 1970s Boy Scout troop number 508 took on the job of refurbishing the monument.

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