Cannon in Old Town Plaza, called ''El Capitan'', from Fort Guijarros Old Town San Diego State Historic Park 05

Plaza de Las Armas and the old bell San Diego Viejo Plaza, (San Diego Old Plaza), also called Plaza de Las Armas (Plaza of the Cannon), Old Town Plaza, Washington Square, is a historical site in San Diego, California. San Diego Viejo Plaza site is a California Historical Landmark No. 63, listed on December 5, 1932. The plaza (town square) was the center of Pueblo de San Diego founded in 1835 in

Alta California Alta California ('Upper California'), also known as ('New California') among other names, was a province of New Spain, formally established in 1804. Along with the Baja California peninsula, it had previously comprised the province of , but ...

History

The major buildings and houses of Pueblo of San Diego were built around the town square. Pueblo of San Diego was the first permanent Spanish settlement in California. In 1769, Father Junípero Serra’s mission and Gaspar de Portolá's

Presidio of San Diego El Presidio Real de San Diego (Royal Presidio of San Diego) is a historic fort in San Diego, California. It was established on May 14, 1769, by Gaspar de Portolá, leader of the first European land exploration of Alta California—at that time an ...

were built over looking the Pueblo of San Diego. Ships coming to Pueblo of San Diego sailed into

San Diego Bay San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port located in San Diego County, California near the U.S.–Mexico border. The bay, which is long and wide, is the third largest of the three large, protected natural bays on California's of c ...

. The first houses (casa) at the Plaza were built in about 1821. In 1827 over 30

adobe Adobe ( ; ) is a building material made from earth and organic materials. is Spanish for ''mudbrick''. In some English-speaking regions of Spanish heritage, such as the Southwestern United States, the term is used to refer to any kind of e ...

homes had been built around the San Diego central Plaza, many the homes were for retired Spanish Empire veterans. The only large house in the Plaza was La Casa de Juan Bandini. From 1770 to 1822 Pueblo of San Diego was

ruled ''Ruled'' is the fifth full-length LP by The Giraffes. Drums, bass and principal guitar tracks recorded at The Bunker in Brooklyn, NY. Vocals and additional guitars recorded at Strangeweather in Brooklyn, NY. Mixed at Studio G in Brooklyn, NY ...

by a commandant from the Presidio of San Diego under the

New Spain New Spain, officially the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( es, Virreinato de Nueva España, ), or Kingdom of New Spain, was an integral territorial entity of the Spanish Empire, established by Habsburg Spain during the Spanish colonization of the Am ...

. In 1822 the First Mexican Empire took control of the government in Pueblo of San Diego. The

Mexican secularization act of 1833 Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

opened up mission land for citizens. In 1835 San Diego had a population of 500 and the First Mexican Republic declared San Diego an official pueblo, ''city'' status, and could have it own elected mayor (

alcalde Alcalde (; ) is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An ''alcalde'' was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian '' cabildo'' (the municipal council) a ...

), not under

military rule Military rule may mean: * Military justice, the legal system applying to members of the armed forces * Martial law, where military authority takes over normal administration of law * Militarism or militarist ideology, the ideology of government as b ...

of the Presidio. Pueblo status was granted after a petition was sent to Governor José Figueroa and endorsed by Commandant

Santiago Arguello Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, whose ...

. In 1838 San Diego lost its Pueblo status because of the declining population. The United States acquired Alta California and San Diego through the Mexican–American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. On July 29, 1846, at 4 p.m. the first

Flag of the United States The national flag of the United States, United States of America, often referred to as the ''American flag'' or the ''U.S. flag'', consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rect ...

was raised in Plaza San Diego Viejo by Lt. Stephen C. Rowan, an United States Navy Commander of

US sailor The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the worl ...

s and US Marines. Stephen C. Rowan arrived at US sailing ship,

Sloop-of-war In the 18th century and most of the 19th, a sloop-of-war in the Royal Navy was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. The rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above; thus, the term ''sloop-of-war'' enc ...

, USS ''Cyan'' built in 1837. After the war the United States renamed the Plaza, Washington Square. Pueblo of San Diego Plaza was an inland town as such in 1850, new building started at San Diego Bay, The US Army built New San Diego Barracks in 1850 and 1851, a

supply depot Supply depots are a type of military installation used by militaries to store battlefield supplies temporarily on or near the front lines until they can be distributed to military units. Supply depots are responsible for nearly all other types of ...

and wharf. The depot was built in what was called at the time ''New San Diego'', on San Diego Bay, south of Pueblo de San Diego. New San Diego was built into a town by William Heath Davis in the early 1850s."William Heath Davis"
San Diego History Center online resources By 1890 many of the houses and buildings became run down. The Plaza had been neglected and many of the original homes and buildings were demolished. In the 1920s and 1930s preservation works started to save the remaining buildings and homes. The Works Progress Administration did restoration in the 1930s of a few remaining buildings, including the Casa de Estudillo. The State of California designated Old Town San Diego as a

California State Historic Park List of California State Historic Parks — a division of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, for historic sites in California. List *Anderson Marsh State Historic Park *Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park *Bale G ...

in 1968 and more preservation and reconstruction work was done. With the new California Historic designation, the title ''San Diego Viejo Plaza'' and ''Plaza de Las Armas'' came back in use. Early mayors, called

Alcalde Alcalde (; ) is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An ''alcalde'' was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian '' cabildo'' (the municipal council) a ...

, of Pueblo de San Diego, included: Juan María Osuna,

Santiago Argüello Santiago Argüello (1791–1862) was a Californio, a soldier in the Spanish army of the Viceroyalty of New Spain in Las Californias, a major Mexican land grant ranchos owner, and part of an influential family in Mexican Alta California and post- ...

, José Antonio Estudillo,

Rosario E. Aguilar Rosario E. Aguilar (ca. 1792 – 1847) was an early settler of San Diego, California. Life Aguilar was born around 1792 in Spain. He was corporal of the mission guard at San Diego, and had a house on site of the present town, in 1821. In 1827 ...

Jesús Moreno Jesús Alberto Moreno Salas (born 3 May 1990) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a forward. Career He debuted with San Luis on July 30, 2011 against Tecos de la UAG, on the 2nd date of the 2011 Apertura Tournament of the ...

, and

José María Alvarado José María Alvarado (1813–1846) was the son of Juan Bautista Alvarado (a soldier and cousin to the governor by the same name) and María Raimunda Yorba. Life Alvarado's grandfather, the elder Juan Bautista Alvarado, accompanied Gaspar de ...

. The city of San Diego Incorporated on March 27, 1850. The State of California was admitted to the Union on September 9, 1850.
Plaza de Las Armas is boarded by Calhoun Street on the northeast, Mason Street on the southeast, San Diego Avenue on the southwest, and Wallace Street on the northwest. A historical marker, on a large rock, is at Old Town Plaza, Washington Square, in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

Plaza de Las Armas Landmarks

There are over 26 designated historical sites around the Plaza.
Close to the San Diego Viejo Plaza marker are other historical markers and buildings: :: Buildings: * Robinson-Rose House 1853 by James W. Robinson,now visitor ceneter *

Johnson House, Old Town San Diego The Johnson House or Johnson Building is a reconstructed historic building located on Plaza de Las Armas at 2706 San Diego Avenue in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park in San Diego, California. History The Johnson House was built in 1870. ...

* Casa de Estudillo House * Casa de Machado y Silvas * Casa de Stewart * Casa de Pedrorena de Altamirano building * Mason Street School building * Alvarado House 1830 home of Francisco Maria Alvarado * Thomas Wrightington House * Colorado House, reconstructed 1850s hotel building * Seeley Stables Museum, a reconstructed 1850s stable Museum * Blackhawk Smithy & Stable which features blacksmith demonstrations * Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant * First San Diego Courthouse, a reconstructed 1850s courthouse * Old Town San Diego marker * La Casa de Rodriguez, ''Racine and Laramie'' a reconstructed 1850s period tobacconist * San Diego Union Museum, a 1850s period newspaper office and print shop * US House built in 1850 as general store run by Charles Noell and John Hayes. * McCoy House Museum built in 1869. * Cannon in Old Town Plaza, called ''El Capitan'' * Plaza San Diego Viejo flagpole a reconstruction of the 1846 tall flagpole. * Adobe Chapel of The Immaculate Conception 1850 John Brown House, two block south of plaza ::Markers: *The End of the Kearney Trail historical marker. *La Casa de Estudillo Marker *La Casa de Rodriguez marker * Juan Bandini Marker *Birthplace of the

San Diego Union ''The San Diego Union-Tribune'' is a metropolitan daily newspaper published in San Diego, California, that has run since 1868. Its name derives from a 1992 merger between the two major daily newspapers at the time, ''The San Diego Union'' and ...

*Original Foundation Casa de Aguirre *Father Antonio Ubach marker *1906 Old Town Convent *Don Antonio Aguirre marker *Adobe Construction marker

Gallery

Old Town San Diego 010.jpg, Plaza de Las Armas Old Town, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (82).jpg, Plaza de Las Armas Flagpole San Diego - Old Town, CA, USA - panoramio (25).jpg, Plaza de Las Armas and Robinson-Rose House San Diego - Old Town, CA, USA - panoramio (6).jpg, Plaza de Las Armas San Diego - Old Town, CA, USA - panoramio (22).jpg, Plaza de Las Armas and Casa de Pedrorena de Altamirano Johnson House, Old Town San Diego 0623.jpg, Plaza de Las Armas,

Johnson House Johnson House may refer to: United Kingdom *Dr. Johnson's House, 17 Gough Square, London United States Alabama *John Johnson House (Leighton, Alabama) Arkansas * Johnson House (514 East 8th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas) * Johnson House (516 Ea ...

and Cosmopolitan Hotel Casa de Machado y Silvas.jpg, Plaza de Las Armas and Casa de Machado y Silvas Old Town San Diego State Historic Park 04.jpg, Plaza de Las Armas, Colorado House and Courthouse 2019 Old Town wagon.jpg, Plaza de Las Armas Old Town Wagon San Diego (California, USA), Old Town -- 2012 -- 5550.jpg, Plaza de Las Armas Old Town jail San Diego - Old Town, CA, USA - panoramio (33).jpg, Plaza de Las Armas Thomas Wrightington adobe.jpg, Thomas Wrightington House

References

{{Authority control California Historical Landmarks History of San Diego County, California 1835 in Alta California 1835 establishments in Alta California

History

Plaza de Las Armas Landmarks

Gallery

See also

References