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San Diego Historic Images

Mission San Diego was founded on July 16, 1769, on Presidio Hill, and relocated about five and a half miles inland in 1774. This gallery contains several illustrations of events in the mission’s early history and artist drawings of the mission church originally built in 1813 on its present site.

After the American takeover of California, the California missions became a popular subject in the Illustrated Magazines of the day, and we have included several of these illustrations as well as a contemporary photograph in this gallery.

Cabrillo's Ships Entering San Diego Bay

Cabrillo’s ships entering San Diego Bay in 1542

A painting by Robert Marcotte.

Spanish raising cross onshore of San Diego in 1769

Spanish raising cross onshore of San Diego in 1769

Claiming the area for Spain, an illustration by A.B. Dodge, colorized © 2014, Pentacle Press LLC.

Land expedition Approaching San Diego in 1769

Land expedition Approaching San Diego in 1769

After a painting by Lloyd Harting (1901-1974). 

Founding of Mission San Diego

Founding of Mission San Diego on Presidio Hill - July 16, 1769

After a painting by Carl Oscar Borg.

San Diego Mission 1850 by HMT Powell

San Diego Mission 1850 by HMT Powell

Powell left Greenville Illinois in April 1849 for the California Gold Fields. He sketched a number of the California Missions during his travels, returning home in 1851.

San Diego, 1856 - a drawing made by Henry Miller

San Diego, 1856 - a drawing made by Henry Miller

Miller is credited with creating the first complete set of drawings of the California missions.

San Diego de Alcala 1874 by Vischer

San Diego de Alcala 1874 by Vischer

This drawing shows the isolation of the old mission after it was secularized. Religious services were held in Old Town. 

Color Lithograph of Mission San Diego by Mullhausen

Color Lithograph of Mission San Diego

Circa 1856, this is thought to be after a painting by Henrich Balduin Mullhausen. 

This illustration was published in Volume V of an 1856 “Exploration and Survey Report” for a railroad that would extend from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast. From an original print in the collection of the California Missions Resource Center.

A scene at Mission San Diego, by H.W. Bartlett, c 1856

A scene at Mission San Diego, by H.W. Bartlett, c 1856

From the collection of Pentacle Press LLC

Old Mission San Diego by Louis K Harlow 1895

Old Mission San Diego by Louis K Harlow 1895

Courtesy, Library of Congress

Mission San Diego

Mission San Diego

The ruins of Mission San Diego, published in 1890 in Century Magazine, in the collection of Pentacle Press LLC.

A drawing of Mission San Diego by Henry Farny, 1889

A drawing of Mission San Diego by Henry Farny, 1889

1820 painting by Edith Buckland Webb

1820 painting by Edith Buckland Webb

Mission San Diego as it looked c. 1820, by Edith Buckland Webb (1877-1955).. 

This is considered the most accurate rendition of how the mission looked in its peak years.

Cemetery at the former Asistencia of Santa Isabel

Cemetery at the former Asistencia of Santa Isabel

Still in use today. The mission fell into ruin after secularization but retained a Christian community. In 1924 a contemporary chapel was built on the site of the original church. 

Photograph by David J. McLaughlin.​​​​​​​
Mission San Diego as it looks today

Mission San Diego as it looks today

A photograph by David J. McLaughlin

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