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A skull discovered in 1929 established human presence in San Diego about 12,000 years ago. The Kumeyaay Indians, present at the time of Cabrillo’s landing, lived in small, organized villages. Hunters and gatherers, they subsisted on acorns, berries, and small prey.

A generous philanthropist, businessman (see Silver Strand State Beach), and owner of Hotel del Coronado.

The discovery of gold in the hills northeast of San Diego in 1870 was the largest strike in Southern California. For five years miners poured into the town of Julian (see Julian), which would have become the new county seat if San Diego supporters had not plied the voters of Julian with liquor on election day. The gold eventually ran out, but not until millions of dollars were pumped into San Diego’s economy.

Baum (see Meade House) lived in and considered Coronado an “earthly paradise.”

San Diego International Airport (see San Diego International Airport) is popularly called after Charles Lindbergh (see Charles Lindbergh (1853–1926)), who began the first leg of his trans-Atlantic crossing from here in 1927. The US Army Air Corps drained the surrounding marshland, took over the small airport, and enlarged the runways to accommodate the heavy bomber aircraft manufactured in San Diego during World War II.

After gaining independence, Mexico secularized the California missions and distributed their land to the politically faithful. The resulting rancho system of land management lasted into the 20th century. Without Spanish trade restrictions, ports were open to all and San Diego became a center for the hide trade.

Originally built on Presidio Hill in 1769, this mission moved up the valley a few years later. The first of 21 missions, it was the birthplace of Christianity in California. It was the only mission to be attacked by Indians. In 1847, the US Cavalry occupied the grounds (see Mission San Diego de Alcalá).

After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, retired soldiers and their families moved downhill from the presidio, built homes, and opened businesses. An open trade policy attracted others to settle, and by the end of the decade, 600 people lived in Old Town – San Diego’s commercial and residential center until 1872.

To celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal and draw economic attention to the first US port of call on the West Coast, Balboa Park (see Balboa Park) was transformed into a brilliant attraction. Fair animals found homes at the zoo (see San Diego Zoo) and Spanish-Colonial buildings became park landmarks.