How San Diego fits into America's 250th anniversary story
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La Jolla Cove on July 4, 1895. Photo: Courtesy of San Diego History Center
As America rings in its 250th birthday, San Diego wants in on the action.
The big picture: The San Diego History Center has a new exhibit meant to challenge the narrative that our southwestern pocket of the country had nothing to do with the founding of America in 1776.
Between the lines: San Diego didn't join the United States until 1850. Still, things were happening here, Tina Zarpour, head of education at the San Diego History Center, tells Axios.
Case in point: In 1775, the Kumeyaay people living in this area rebelled against Spanish colonial power, Zarpour says.
- San Diego also had a big role in other moments in American history, including both World Wars, the founding of the border and the New Deal.
State of play: All of that history is showcased in the "America at 250: San Diego 1776–2026" exhibit at the San Diego History Center.
- You can see 100 objects, including a historic Ford Model T, a stagecoach and an architectural model of the old Jack Murphy Stadium.
If you go: The exhibit is open now at the History Center in Balboa Park.
- Wednesday through Sunday, 10am–5pm
