City Unveils Collaborative Efforts to Commemorate San Diego and Where California Began

SAN DIEGO 250: Civic and Community Leaders Announce Events to Mark San Diego’s 250th Anniversary In 2019

Standing alongside a broad coalition of civic leaders, organizations, community volunteers and Kumeyaay representatives, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer today introduced collaborative efforts to commemorate the City’s 250th anniversary and where California began.

The San Diego 250 initiative is a community-driven effort to create historical and educational opportunities to reflect on the city’s history and leave behind a legacy for the future. The group has met biweekly to plan key events and identify other ways to educate San Diegans on the significance of this moment in time.

“This year we mark a tremendous milestone – 250 years of history, culture and achievement,” Mayor Faulconer said. “San Diego is the place where California began, and we will reflect on our past, commemorate this moment in time and look forward to building a better future for all San Diegans in the next 250 years. I want to thank the many dedicated individuals and organizations that have come together to help celebrate this important anniversary and create opportunities to learn more about our history and heritage as a city and region.”

San Diego today is the eighth largest city in the nation known for its beautiful beaches, active lifestyle and diverse, vibrant communities. The area has been Kumeyaay territory for thousands of years and they continue to be part of the region’s cultural fabric. Kumeyaay representatives have had the opportunity to be a part of meaningful discussions within the working group to aid in the accurate historical representation of their history. This year could be a starting point for a larger Kumeyaay presence in the city moving forward.

The San Diego we know today began on July 16, 1769, and this year the city and regional partners look to commemorate this significant anniversary through three events slated to take place during 2019. The events are free and open to the public:

• April 11, 2019 – Port of San Diego and Maritime Museum will co-host an event inspired by the arrival of the Spanish sailing ship, San Antonio, into San Diego Bay 250 years ago to the day. The event brings together the Kumeyaay Nation, public officials, the Maritime Museum and honored guests to share in marking the day that San Diego began.
• July 16, 2019 – Honored guests and officials will gather atop Presidio Park to honor our past and envision our future during a civic ceremony to commemorate our shared history. The event will feature a press conference, dedication of Kumeyaay flag, VIP tour of new exhibits, entertainment and refreshments.
• September 14 & 15, 2019 – Rich in heritage and bursting with opportunities to explore, Old Town is not only historically significant but provides the perfect location for guests to fully immerse themselves in San Diego’s history and celebrate the future. The weekend-long Founders’ Day Festival will feature entertainment, vendors and activities for the whole family.

To learn more about the San Diego 250 efforts, visit www.sandiego250.com(link is external).