San Diego Local Custom Tips by Pawtuxet

There are reallly three parts to what I consider to be Old Town. One is the Heritage Park with the painted Victorians pictured in some of my other tips. Second is the Bazaar Del Mundo where all the shops and entertainment is...pictured on my other tips. Third is the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park which has several reproduction buildings outfitted in original furnishings. These buildings really tell the story of Old Town San Diego more authentically. I will include several tips with photos and info about these original sites.

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The Old Town San Diego State HIstoric Park is run by the California State Parks system. The Visitors Center is a reproduction building..along with the rest in this row...made to look like the originals which were lost to fire many years ago. Here you can get the lay of the land...see what the original territory looked like...how it was all laid out as a town.
Noone was there when we visited...perhaps the impression would have been different if there were a guide.

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LaCasa de Machado y Silvas (The Machado-Silvas House) or The Commercial Restaurant...was originally built for a family of modest means. Jose' Manuel Machado had a ranch across the border in Baja California, but his wife, Maria preferred to stay in Old Town near family and friends.
The original house was adobe with a thatched or tile roof. Adobe (composed of clay, water, cow manure, and sand) was a highly regarded building material. Kept the interior cool in summer, warm in winter. Whitewash (a composition of sea shells) was used on the interior to brighten the rooms.
The building served as a home until 1920 when it became a restaurant. The exhibit within the building shows it as its life as a restaurant of the 20's.

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Maybe it was the time of day or the way the sun streamed in the window....but this kitchen in the Old Town restaurant really enchanted me. The manequin stood with her back to the visitor....so that you actually thought it was a live person putting something on the shelf. Interesting bowls, jugs, baskets, utensils all around. The simplicity of the structure and the furnishings were very appealing.
Notice the old stenciling on the upper walls.

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The cigar store, amongst the reproduction buildings of Old Town, is a fascinating place to browse. You can find pipes, cigars, cigarettes, cigarette lighters....and the like. In fact, my husband spotted an old ZIPPO lighter which was priced at $80 and $90...depending on the age and the insignias. Wow...just in his lifetime! There was a costumed clerk at the desk, however, he barely raised his head when I spoke to him. Quite unlilke the costumed guides and clerks at Williamsburg, Plimoth Plantation, or Sturbridge Village.

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A familiar sight to all of us who have watched cowboy movies over the years. Wells Fargo....about as American as apple pie. The stagecoach was in perfect condition...but I still don't want to travel over the bumpy, dusty roads in one of them....worrying about outlaws all the way across New Mexico!!

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Here is a view of an unimportant alley along the way in Old Town. It's just so western and authentic...it begged me to take the picture.

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We walked through the center of the bazaar where the greenery is so lush...you are hardly aware of all the signs and commercialism of the shops around you. Entertainment is sometimes provided in this little central area. If you love to shop and want it to be a pleasant experience...try this. Plenty of benches around for the husbands to sit and relax watching the crowds...with a bit of a breeze and perhaps a cold drink.

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Just a bench in the Old Town Commercial Restaurant. The style is old spainish influence with carved dark wood.

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The Old Town conservers have tried to create an informative display within these reproduction buildings...and they have done an admirable job. I felt saddened by the fact that very few people visited these spaces, however. The more popular place was the bazaar and all the shopping. Far more activity and colorful things to look at....lots of lush plantings and pleasant spaces. Perhaps if there were costumed guides or activities centered in the historic buildings, the public might be more inspired to visit.

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