Alcala Yearbook 1997

America's finesl City is also California's oldesl city. Juan Rodri8uez Cabrillo si8hted the &n Die8o Bay area in 1542, 8ivi~ it lhe name 6an Mi 0 uel and claiming it for 6pain. The area was renamed OM Die8o de Alcala de Hernares in 1602. Both the first 6panish setUemenl in California (a military post) and the mission 6 Die8o de Alcala were founded in 1769. The city was subject to Mexican conlrol in 1834, bul passed lo lhe United &tales in 1848 afler the Mexican War. &an Die8o's rich history can now be experienced as one strolls lhrou8h Old Town. or visits Presidio Park. lhe sile of California's firsl mission, founded by Junipero &rra. The city's downtown business district was purchased by Alonzo Horton in 1867. Much of lhe city's 8rowth can be altributed to OM Die8o' s early connection wilh lhe 8an,ta f e Railway. The cily' s population is continually 8rowi~. with c!urrenUy over one million residents.

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by Eddie Rose

Pictured Above: The San Diego Children's Museum, in Balboa Park, offers both temporary and year-round exhibits, games and events. Pictured Left: Last summer's 1996 Rebublican National Convention was hosted by the Convention Center in downtown San Diego.