San Diego from the old fort

Share

Few views of early San Diego look back from the old Spanish presidio on the hill above the valley, which makes this lithograph's vantage point its most distinctive feature. The Presidio, founded in 1769, had lost its central role by the 1840s, when the town's center had shifted down toward Old Town near the bay. The record dates the print only to the 184- decade and credits C.B. Graham as the lithographer, and its subject tags point to western exploration, pack trains, and forts, reflecting the American interest in the Southwest that followed the Mexican War. Viewers should note that these details come from an old caption card and have not been independently verified.

More from the San Diego collection

Snapshots of the Past helps heritage brands, museums, historians and storytellers tell stories with history: historic prints, image licensing and historical storytelling drawn from more than 25 years of research and curation.