Junipero Serra Museum

One of the most renowned landmarks of San Diego, the Junipero Serra Museum, sits atop a hill known as the site where California was born. Father Junipero Serra led a party of soldiers to this area in 1769 to establish a mission and fort in Alta California.

The mission was established and thereafter built as the Mission San Diego de Alcala. Using Spanish Revival architecture, William Templeton Johnson designed the Jumipero Serra Museum in 1929 in order to display a collection from the San Diego History Center. Visitors often confuse the museum structure with the actual mission.

The Junipero Serra Museum believes in educating people of all ages about the history of San Diego and to help patrons appreciate how the past interrelates with the present and future. Operating hours for the museum run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It is also available for special events.

The Junipero Serra Museum is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of interstate 8 and interstate 5. Visitors to the area can also enjoy other tourist attractions, such as the Whaley House Museum and Bazaar del Mundo within walking distance. A short drive away, tourists can find Sea World, the National Comedy Theatre, the San Diego Zoo, Belmont and Balboa Parks, and the San Diego Museum of Art.