Presidio of San Diego

Presidio of San Diego (1769-1831, 1846-1921) - A Spanish Presidio established in 1769 by Spanish Governor Gaspar de Portola and Fray Junipero Serra in present day San Diego, San Diego County, California. The Presidio was abandoned by the Mexican government as a fortification in 1831. Occupied in 1846 by American forces. San Diego Depot was established in 1850 and later named Post of New San Diego and finally San Diego Barracks. San Diego Barracks was abandoned in 1921.

The Spanish Period (1769-1821)

The Presidio of San Diego was one of five Presidios built by the Spanish Governor of California. The other four Presidios were the Presidio of Monterey, the Presidio of San Francisco, the Presidio of Santa Barbara and the Presidio of Tubac in Arizona. Two missions were associated with the Presidio of San Diego, Mission San Diego de Alcala adjacent to the Presidio and Mission San Diego located about six miles to the northeast. A harbor fortification was built on Point Loma called Castillo de Guijarros. The Presidio was first designated a fort on 1 Jul 1769 as El Presidio Real. It was formally designated a Presidio in 1774.

The Mexican Period (1822-1846)

The Mexican War of Independence ended the Spanish rule over California and changed the mission system to a more secular system with decreasing reliance on the church and the mission to provide for the native population. The Presidio of San Diego was abandoned by the Mexican government as a fortification in 1831 and allowed to deteriorate. The church and mission continued but now tended mainly to the spiritual needs of the community.At the end of the Mexican Period neither the Presidio of San Diego nor the Castillo de Guijarros had any remaining military value.

The American Period (1846-Present)

The Mexican War was declared by the U.S. Congress on 11 May 1846 in response to a Mexican attack on U.S. troops in Texas. The declaration of war opened the door for American occupation of California. The American period began when American forces occupied San Diego in 1846 and built Fort DuPont (3) on Presidio Hill, later known as Garrison at San Diego, Fort Stockton (3) and Fort San Diego. The Mission San Diego de Alcala was used by a garrison of regular U.S. Army troops and named Post at Mission San Diego. San Diego Depot was established in 1850 and later named Post of New San Diego and San Diego Barracks. San Diego Barracks was abandoned in 1921.

Current Status

Presidio City Park, San Diego, San Diego County, California.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 247773

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Location: Presidio City Park, 2811 Jackson St, San Diego, San Diego County, California. Maps & Images Lat: 32.7572722 Long: -117.1944792 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 164'

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 87-88
• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2,page 34

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Presidio of San Diego
• California Military Museum - Presidio of San Diego
• San Diego Presidio Park (pdf)

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Presidio of San Diego Picture Gallery

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