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Casa de Aguirre
Casa de Aguirre Museum |
The Casa de Aguirre museum is housed in a reconstruction of the original adobe. The Casa de Aguirre contains the museum displays, as well as a large giftshop. The information and photos presented on this page comes from displays in the museum and from the plaques on the statues of two of early California's important personages. |
DON ANTONIO AGUIRRE |
San Diego Merchant and Ranchero |
1799 - 1860 |
Don Jose Antonio Aguirre built his adobe mansion on this site on or just prior to 1853. Because the Casa de Aguirre was one of the first houses in Old Town, the Aguirres - Antonio, his wife Rosario and their many children - are considered to be one of San Diego's founding families. Don Antonio was a wealthy merchant and rancher who contributed greatly to the development of San Diego. Locally, he owned several ships and warehouses and imported goods from Peru and China in trade for cowhides and tallow. Later, Aguirre became one of the largest landowners in California when he developed a successful ranching enterprise. Born in Spain, he also held Mexican and American citizenship in his lifetime. In 1850, he partnered with William Heath Davis to develop New Town San Diego. Aguirre was known for his charity and funded many projects including the construction of the Old Adobe Chapel on Conde Street, the church where he is buried. |
Don Antonio Aguirre |
In Old Town History
|
Timeline
1799 Don José Antonio Aguirre is born to French parents
in San Sebastian, Spain
1814 Emigrates to Louisiana at the age of 15 1820 By this date, establishes trade business in Mexico, importing goods from Manila and Canton 1826 After being expelled by the Mexican government, returns to New Orleans 1831 Becomes a United States citizen at the age of 32 1833 Buys the American ship Dolphin and changes its name to the Leonidas, sailing under the Mexican flag, he establishes an import business trading tallow and hides 1841 Marries Francisca Estudillo, daughter of one of San Diego's most influencial men. She dies in childbirth the following year 1846 Marries Rosario Estudillo, sister of his first wife 1849 Sells shipping business to purchase ranching enterprise 1853 Builds the Casa de Aguirre for his wife Rosario in present-day Old Town 1858 Gives money to build the Old Adobe Chapel 1860 Dies at age 61 on July 31 in the Casa de Aguirre from a leg infection. At his request, he is buried at the Old Adobe Chapel |
FATHER ANTONIO UBACH |
Last of the Padres |
1835 - 1907 |
Antonio Dominic Ubach, passionate advocate for California's Native Americans and defender of Indian rights, ran St. Anthony's Indian School on this site from 1886 to 1891. Father Ubach created programs to help hundreds of Indian children adapt to American society. He lobbied government to protect the Indians and their lands and was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant to lead official missions of the State. Father Ubach was immortalized in Helen Hunt Jackson's 1884 novel Ramona as the fictional character Father Gaspara. The landmark book focused national attention on the plight of the Native Americans in California. An accomplished scholar, poet and swordsman, he left Spain for America in 1855 to devote his life to religious duty for over a half century. Considered to be the last of the Padres, he was beloved and respected by all for his tireless charitable work. His funeral in 1907 was attended by thousands of San Diego citizens, settlers and Indians whose lives he touched. True to his character, his last words were "have charity." |
Father Ubach |
Last of the Padres
|
Timeline
"
1835 Antonio Ubach is born near Barcelona, Spain
1855 Emigrates to U.S. to complete his theological studies 1858 Graduates from St. Vincent's Seminary in Missouri 1860 Receives his orders for priesthood in San Francisco 1866 Named Pastor of San Diego at age 31 1869 Moves into the Casa de Aguirre, making it his rectory 1875 Begins construction of St. Joseph's Church in Old Town 1882 Meets author Helen Hunt Jackson 1884 Portrayed in Jackson's newly published novel, Ramona, a book that brings attention to the plight of California Indians, his lifelong cause 1886 Father Ubach converts the Casa de Aguirre into St. Anthony's Indian School 1891 Graduation ceremonies at St. Anthony's in Old Town held for the last time 1892 St. Anthony's School moves to the Mission San Diego de Alcalá 1907 Father Ubach, Last of the Padres, dies at the age of 72 |
Model of the Casa de Aguirre c. 1869
This is a model of the Casa de Aguirre as it appeared in
1869. During this year, the adobe house with wood shingles was used as a rectory
by Father Antonio Ubach who can be seen approaching the building from the right.
The outbuildings at Casa de Aguirre, evidenced by early photographs of the site,
were constantly changing. During the St. Anthony's School era that began 17 years
later, the outbuildings shown in this model were torn down and replaced with
two-story buildings that were used as dormitories for Indian boys.
The detailed reconstruction of the Casa de Aguirre was based on archaeological findings, historical research, old drawings and photographs. Archaeologists located the original foundation during their excavations and, after their work was completed, marked the footprint of the house with chalk for construction workers. The building that you are standing in was built on the historic foundation of Casa de Aguirre. |
Model built by Joe Toigo, resident of Old Town San Diego |
Archaeological Display
It has been called the most important archaeological
find to date in Old Town San Diego, this block-size excavation that began in
1994. In this year, a team of historians and archaeologists organized to
unearth the site of the Casa de Aguirre, originally the 1853 adobe home of
Don Antonio Aguirre, one of San Diego's wealthiest and most generous
citizens, and later the site of St. Anthony's Industrial School for Indians
run by Father Antonio Ubach.
Plans for the creation of Old Town Market by Historic Tours of America called for the relocation of the historic four-story Convent building eastward so that a replica of the adobe building could be constructed on the original foundation of the Casa de Aguirre. In cooperation with the city of San Diego, Historic Tours of America launched a long-term archaeological research project for this site. A team of scientists led by local archaeologist Dennis Gallegos spent nearly a decade searching for clues about the Casa de Aguirre and Old Town's past. Early excavations produced a spectacular array of artifacts from the Aguirre period including bottles, tableware, horseshoes, tobacco pipes and bullets. The objects offered a rare glimpse of a San Diego household circa 1860. Archaeologists were excited with the early find, but at the same time were puzzled that almost everything recovered from the site dated to the Aguirre period. Strangely, few items were found that could be attributed to the Indian School, an institution that had been on the grounds for five years beginning in 1886. When new trenches were dug to lower the old convent to its original height, archaeologists found the answer to their puzzle: the discovery of an old well and a large privy that were packed full with thousands of Indian School artifacts. In the late 1800s, the school used the abandoned well and privy as convienient trash dumps. During the excavation through the deep shafts, slates and pencils, dolls, harmonicas, marbles, buttons, shoe leather, and toothbrush handles were unearthed. The items were testimony to the 19th century lives of Indian School children and their teachers. Archaeologists had discovered the rest of the story. The artifacts tell a remarkable story of one house and two families: a higher class Mexican-Californian family who lived in the house in the 1860s and the school "family" of Father Ubach and his Indian students who occupied the building in the late 1880s early 1890s. Because of similar types of materials such as tableware, bottles, toys and animal bones were found from both occupations, archaeologists were able to compare artifacts from a more affluent household with objects from an institutional school. The socioeconomic differences are striking - and sometimes surprising - and can be seen in the artifacts displayed in the Casa de Aguirre museum. We invite you to relive the lives of two early Old Town families through the things they left behind. |
The Casa de Aguirre Museum is located at the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, San Diego Avenue at Twiggs Street, San Diego. See map. |
Items of Interest...
Related Links |
Old Town Market San Diego - Historic Tours of America |
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park |
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