History comes alive at Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day.
Folks enjoy taking a ride in an old-fashioned covered wagon in Old Town San Diego during 2017 Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day.
I’ve got lots of colorful photos! The annual Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day was held today in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. I covered this event last year, but I love history and scenes from the Old West so much that I swung by again!
San Diego’s history is remarkably diverse, considering our city is relatively new, and that it is situated in what for a long time was a thinly populated, desert-like wilderness. Many peoples and cultures have converged to help shape our dynamic city, including the original Native American Kumeyaay, missionaries from Spain, Mexicans who have called San Diego home, immigrants from Asia, an influx of Italian and Portuguese fishermen, and among many others, the Mormons.
Please enjoy these photos and click the big sign that provides a little more background about the event and the historical importance of the Mormon Battalion in San Diego. More information can also be found on my previous blog post concerning the event last year. Check the related links below!
The public was welcome to swing by the annual Mormon Battalion Commemoration in Old Town. There were many historical reenactments and costumes to see.One tent concerned letters home, featuring historical journals, maps and genealogy.Today we commemorate the first arrival of the U.S. Army in San Diego on January 29, 1847. This detachment was called The Mormon Battalion, recruited from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Click image to enlarge the sign if you’d like to read it.)Lots of interesting historical activities were being enjoyed by a large, enthusiastic crowd.Map shows Mormon Battalion Routes 1846 – 1847. The soldiers, recruited by the U.S. Army to fight in the Mexican-American War, undertook the longest military march in United States history. After arriving, they helped to build early San Diego.People draw the star and bear symbols of the California Republic.I believe these families were making biscuits, a staple of the Old West.Guys in pioneer clothing just kick back by plastic chairs and watch some dancing and musical entertainment during the event.Some colorful, joyful Mexican folklorico dancing on stage in Old Town San Diego!This guy with the huge saw was demonstrating another aspect of life in old San Diego.Visitors to Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day try their hand at sawing a thick log!A bunch of steampunk enthusiasts were attending the historical event!A fez and a golden arm. These guys should be in some sort of cool adventure movie! Perhaps they belong in a blimp!Like last year, a tent showed people how bricks were once made in San Diego.These assembled bigwigs were judging a Dutch Oven Bake-off!Scouts and other youth learn how rope was once made, using twisted fibers from native Yucca cacti.Lots of folks, old and young, were in one tent learning about and making frontier dolls.Some mountain men were camped at the Black Hawk Livery Stable, near the Old Town blacksmith shop.A sign tells about various Western trailblazers, including Jedediah Smith, Kit Carson and Jean Baptiste Charbonneau.Five anvils!Shaping red hot iron in the old blacksmith shop.These guys are keeping the ancient art of blacksmithing alive in a high tech world.Running out onto the wide grassy area behind Seeley Stable. Like travelling back in time.Some beautiful quilts on display during Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day in Old Town San Diego.Kids were learning how acorns were mashed by the Kumeyaay and others in San Diego’s early history.Someone poses for a photo with an old rifle.History, culture, bonnets and period dress. I saw many smiles in Old Town.People in nostalgic frontier garb and a modern t-shirt with a jolting urban message pose together for an unusual photo.Playing lively old frontier music.Kids playing simple, old-fashioned games.Another unique and memorable scene from Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day in Old Town San Diego!
…
This blog now features thousands of photos around San Diego! Are you curious? There’s lots of unique stuff to check out!
Here’s the Cool San Diego Sights main page, where you can read the most current blog posts. If you’re using a small mobile device, click those three parallel lines up at the top–that opens up my website’s sidebar, where you’ll see the most popular posts, a search box, and more!
To enjoy future posts, you can also “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
Downtown San Diego has been my home for many years. My online activities reflect my love for writing, blogging, walking and photography.
View all posts by Richard Schulte
2 thoughts on “History comes alive at Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day.”
Cool San Diego Sights! 
2 thoughts on “History comes alive at Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day.”