Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Diego's Historic Old Town

It was here in Old Town that Saint Junípero Serra celebrated his First Holy Mass in California on July 2, 1769, near this site of the present-day Immaculate Conception Church.

This modest structure is California Historic Landmark number 49 and it has one of the most complicated backgrounds of any you’ll see on this tour!

Step into one of San Diego’s oldest cemeteries, where 19th-century graves and adobe walls preserve the stories of early settlers, outlaws, and soldiers. El Campo Santo is a quiet, hauntingly beautiful stop that offers a glimpse into the city’s frontier past. Keep an eye out because some say not all of its residents rest in peace.

Before the Whaley House stood here, this land was home to San Diego’s public gallows. Today, the peaceful lawn and shaded tree give little hint of its darker past, where Yankee Jim Robinson was famously hanged before the house was ever built. It’s a hauntingly historic stop that adds a chilling layer to Old Town’s story.

This striking white home has traveled farther than most—it was prefabricated in Maine, shipped around Cape Horn, and reassembled in San Diego in the 1850s. Once home to early U.S. Army engineer George Derby and later County Recorder George Pendleton, the house offers a rare glimpse into Old Town’s early attempts at urban development. It stands today as a testament to preservation, resourcefulness, and a few big ideas that didn’t quite go as planned.

Heritage Park is a charming collection of restored Victorian homes and cottages, each relocated here in the 1970s to save them from demolition. As you explore the park, you'll pass beautifully preserved structures like the Sherman-Gilbert House, Bushyhead House, and Senlis Cottage—each with its own story tied to San Diego’s past. It's a peaceful, walkable glimpse into the city's architectural and cultural legacy, brought back to life through grassroots preservation efforts.

This free museum shares the remarkable story of the Mormon Battalion, a group that marched over 2,000 miles west during the Mexican-American War and helped shape early San Diego. Today, the Mormon Battalion Historic Site offers hands-on exhibits, immersive storytelling, and interactive activities like gold panning and brick making. It's a fascinating stop that blends local, military, and religious history in one engaging experience.

Originally built in 1908 as a rectory near downtown San Diego, this historic structure was relocated to Old Town in 1940 and later served as a convent during World War II. Today, it stands on the former site of the Casa de Aguirre—now preserved and recognized as a City of San Diego Historic Landmark. The building’s layered past reflects both the city’s evolving Catholic heritage and its commitment to preservation.

Once home to one of Old Town’s most prominent families, the Casa de Aguirre now serves as a small museum showcasing artifacts from both the Aguirre household and its later use as a Catholic-run industrial school for Native American children in the late 1800s. Displays include luxury imports, household items, and tools from the era, offering a glimpse into two very different chapters of Old Town’s past. It’s a thought-provoking stop that reflects both wealth and hardship in San Diego’s early history.