The ‘Miracle’ on Presidio Hill
The ‘Miracle’ on Presidio Hill
House of Spain on Sunday, March 15, from
5-6:30pm; followed a week later on Saturday,
March 21, from 9-11 am
See Walk Assembly Area below.
In commemoration of the San Diego’s 250th Anniversary, the House of Spain will be presenting “El Jardín del Rey: San Diego’s “Garden of the Dead.” Located in the present “Grotto” area of Presidio Hill Park, the former Franciscan Gardens contains several important if forgotten historic sites associated with Spain’s contributions to San Diego’s founding between 1769 and 1774. The event will be divided into two parts: a lecture about the El Jardín del Rey’s historical significance at the House of Spain on Sunday, March 15, from 5-6:30pm; followed a week later on Saturday, March 21, from 9-11 am by a guided walk of the Grotto. Recently retired California State Park Historian and award-winning local author Alexander D. Bevil will act as both the lecturer and walk guide. Those who take the walk will be able to stand in the middle of the “Spanish Camp,” where the four divisions of the Sacred Expedition gathered to plan the placement of military forts and religious missions at San Diego and Monterey to protect Spain’s claim to Alta California against foreign interlopers.
The walk will also visit the site of a corral, where the first domesticated horses, mules and cattle brought into California were held. Just uphill of the camp site are the locations of the fort and mission San Diego de Alcalá. In 1774, the former became a Royal Spanish Presidio, while the latter was relocated further east to where it stands today. Walkers will also stand on the site where, legend has it, the prayers of a controversial future saint “miraculously” saved the first successful European-American colonial settlement in Alta California from abandonment. Just south of this are the sites of California’s second military field hospital and cemetery. The former was also the site of the first recorded “attack” by the local Kumeyaay against the Spanish interlopers. The latter, “El Jardin del Rey”, contains the unmarked graves of California’s first “Unknown Soldiers”— about 30 to 60 unnamed sick and malnourished soldiers, sailors and marines, as well as Baja California Indian and civilian auxiliaries — who died and are now buried in a forgotten cemetery miles away from their former homes and families. The walk will also stop at four nearby modern-day memorials: the Serra Palm/Spanish Camp State Historic Landmark; the Presidio Park/Franciscan Garden directional boulder sign; the D.A.R.-sponsored Jedediah S. Smith/La Playa Trail Marker; and the Derby Dike State Historic Landmark.
The House of Spain/Casa de España is located in Balboa Park’s Palisades area at 2168 Pan American Road East. There is adequate free parking across the street to the south east (Organ Pavilion Parking lot). Located a grassy terrace in Presidio Park’s westernmost corner, the Grove is located adjacent to a Park utility building just off Taylor Street and Presidio Drive. While street parking is limited, there is a free parking just up
Presidio Drive near the Serra Cross. There is also free Saturday parking at the CalTrans Building three blocks to the southwest at Taylor and Juan Streets.
Do not park at the Presidio Recreation Center’s parking lot. You will be towed! Please wear comfortable shoes and clothing for walking in rain, wind or sunshine. While it is also recommended that you keep yourself hydrated, there are no bathroom facilities in the immediate area.
For more information, contact Alexander D. Bevil at alexdbevil@gmail.com ; or leave a text message at 858-692-6212. RSVP to the House of Spain at rsvp2hos@gmail.com .