Old Town Convent - San Diego, CA
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 32° 45.229 W 117° 11.751
11S E 481653 N 3624012
This building is located beside the Casa de Aguirre in San Diego's OOld Town State Park. The site is now used for tourist shops.
Waymark Code: WMJM62
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 12/02/2013
Views: 5
A plaque at the site reads:
"1908 Old Town Convent
Originally built in the St. Joseph's Rectory
at the corner of 4th Avenue and Beech Street
downtown, this building was moved through the
streets of San Diego to this site in 1940. Here,
it was used by the Catholic Church as a seminary,
convent, community center, and during World
War II, as a USO. The structure was restored by
Historic Tours of America, Inc. in 2003. It
is registered as San Diego Historical Site Number 323."
The Historic Tours of America website (
visit link) adds:
"In San Diego, Historic Tours of America carried out one of the most extensive and productive archeological digs in San Diego history when it moved the old convent on the corner of San Diego Avenue and Twiggs to reconstruct the 19th century pioneer home of Jose Antonio Aguirre. The property was completely excavated for archeological purposes and turned up the most prolific source of such artifacts in that city’s history. The Casa de Aguirre was rebuilt on the same river stone foundations as the original casa and in the exact style of the former residence which first served as the home of Jose Antonio Aguirre and then passed to the catholic church where it served as a school for Indians under the leadership of Father Ubach."