Mission San Diego de Alcala, California’s first church, was founded 16 July 16 1769. More than 200 years earlier, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo had named the bay as San Miguel; in 1602 Sebastian Viscaino renamed it San Diego after Saint Didacus of Alcala. By 1797 the Mission encompassed 50,000 acres. Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821; after the U.S. acquired California from Mexico, the U.S. military occupied the Mission. President Lincoln deeded it back to the church in 1862.
- Place: San Diego CA
- Camera: iPhone 4
- Manipulation: Photogene, crop; Camera Bag, border