El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California's Lost City

By Richard Carrico

Before there was a Los Angeles or a San Francisco, there was Spain's first colony in upper California, El Presidio de San Diego.

Founded in 1769, this small fortress and mission was the seedling for the twenty-one missions and four presidios that followed. It was here that Franciscan priest Jun pero Serra planted the first Catholic cross in what became Alta California. The nearby harbor provided a safe port for sailing ships from all over the world, ensuring a steady stream of goods and supplies. Over its many decades, the San Diego Presidio was home to Spaniards, Mexicans, Native people and, toward the end, Anglo-Americans. Its cemetery became the final resting place for many of them.

Author and historian Richard Carrico provides insights into San Diego's beginnings.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1467159611
• ISBN13: 9781467159616
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: History Press
• Length: 160 Pages