San Diego, California's Old Town
Free Attractions: Casa de Bandini, Casa de Estudillo, Whaley House
Jul 2, 2007
The first European to reach San Diego was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese, who claimed the land for Spain in 1542. The event was not considered important because Spain was still enjoying the wealth of conquered Mexico.
However, according to Edith Buckland Webb's "Indian Life at the Old Missions" published in 1952 by W. F. Lewis, when Russian ships began to skirt the coast of California, Spanish presence had to be noticeable. Gaspar de Portola led an expedition to San Diego to start a base. He arrived with Father Junipero Serra in 1769 who started the first of 21 missions in California: the Mission San Diego de Alcala. Once the mission was built on a hillside, adobe houses began to sprout below which comprised the early community of Old Town.
Nowadays visitors stroll through Old Town to get a feel of what it was like to live in the 1700s in California. Although there are approximately 40 attractions, the following are very popular with visitors and can be viewed for free:
Casa de Bandini was the town's social center owned by Juan Bandini who arrived from Peru in 1819. He married the daughter of Captain Jose Maria Estudillo. In her book, "Where California Began," published by McIntyre Publishing Company in 1929, Winifred Davidson says that Bandini brought the waltz to Old Town. He later sold the house to Alfred Seeley due to financial loses. Seeley added a second story and opened the building as a hotel. Later it was used as a store, a pickle factory, and at present is operating as the Cosmopolitan Restaurant. This is a great gathering place for friends and families. There are also cozy nooks for the romantically inclined.
Casa de Estudillo was the home of Captain Jose Maria Estudillo, Commander of the Presidio, or military fortress which Old Town was at that time. Built in 1827, it was abandoned and restored in 1910. The house was also used by Helen Hunt Jackson, an author, as the setting for her novel: "Ramona." Jackson wrote the novel as a protest to the inhumane treatment of the Indians. History buffs would find this house interesting as it is furnished with pieces used in those days.
The Whaley House was used for various purposes. Aside from having been the family home of Thomas Whaley, it was also used as granary, Country Court House, San Diego's first commercial theatre, general store, ballroom, billiard hall, school, and polling place. It is most well-known for being a haunted house. James Robinson known as "Yankee Jim" was convicted of grand larceny in 1853 and was hanged on the site of the Whaley House. Whaley, a spectator, bought the property a few years later and lived there with his family. Some people claim to have "seen" the ghost of James Robinson and other people claim that they have "seen" Whaley's ghost. Those who like to get spooked find this house eerie. UK television show Dead Famous also investigated this house in 2005, prompting the normally skeptic host Gail Porter to run screaming when she thought she saw an apparition. A visit to the house may give you a fright!
Numerous restaurants for all kinds of budgets abound and some pricey gourmet restaurants where fine Mexican food is served. Many shops offer interesting Mexican decor and items for shopaholics.
Within short driving distance are other San Diego attractions like Balboa Park, Sea World, and San Diego Zoo. For the more adventurous, Tijuana with its own attractions is just across the San Diego border where one may sample Mexican border town culture and cuisine.
