The Old Spanish Trail Auto Highway in 1929

The eastern section, San Antonio to St. Augustine, is 65% paved; the remainder is good gravel, sand-clay or other improved surface and well maintained except in Baldwin County, Ala., east of Mobile Bay, where distress is possible in wet weather. New gravel road is under construction. Ft. Bend County, Texas, between Rosenberg and East Bernard, has a paved and gravel detour to the north, adding 8 mi. Construction on the main line will he completed during 1929.

Only two ferries remain between the Atlantic and the Pacific, the Mississippi River at New Orleans and Berwick Bay at Morgan City, La. The Mississippi River bridge is financed and it is believed construction will soon begin; it will cost $10,000,000.

The East has 50 to 60 inches rainfall. The highway crosses the rivers and bays near the Gulf of Mexico; two- thirds of the drainage waters of the continent are crossed in this eastern section. Long and expensive bridges, numerous drainage structures and paved or gravel roads have been necessary to create an unbroken and all-weather highway. $64,000,000 have now been spent on this section or appropriated for construction in progress.

The western section, San Antonio to San Diego, is 31% paved; the remainder is good gravel or other improved surface, well maintained. This is a dry area with sun­shine, hills, mountains and deserts, natural drainage and natural gravels. There are some short sections west not up to good standard for wet weather but distress rarely occurs for dry weather prevails and those sections then are fine, fast driving. When a storm does occur in the West it is apt to be heavy, caution then should be observed in all sections. $16,000,000 have been spent in the western section.

The Spanish missions were numerous thruout(sp) the Spanish possessions in the Americas. Five Spanish mission centers are In the present United States along the Old Spanish Trail; four of these were extensively developed outposts of the mission chains that reached from the administrative centers in Mexico. New Orleans was a French mission center. During the Spanish occupation of Louisiana and the Mississippi Valley Spain estab­lished missions and settlements but later French influence was re-established.

First, was St. Augustine, Fin., settled in 1565. There are records of 38 missions in the Florida district. Old Fort San Luis. Tallahassee country, was an important section. The Florida missions were probably of wooden construction. The only standing ruin known is of oyster shell cement in a forest north of Brunswick, Ga.

Second, the Santa Fe—El Paso district. Don Juan Onate colonized near Santa Fe beginning 1598. The El Paso mission settlement began in 1659 and the Spanish colonized from El Paso to Santa Fe. In 1680 the Indian rebellion and massacre occurred around Albuquerque and Santa Fe; the survivors fell back to the mission at El Paso, and a new group of missions in the El Paso Valley was established.

Third, the San Antonio district. The beginning, however, was in northeastern Texas (Nacogdoches section) in 1690 with intermittent attempts to establish missions there. In 1716-17 four new missions were established there. In 1718 the mission now known as the Alamo was transferred to the present San Antonio and the remarkable Texas mission works were definitely founded. Five mission groups and ranches were developed along the San Antonio River; great stone churches still remain and two of the irrigating aqueducts still function. Four other mission fields were occupied in southern Texas.

Fourth, the Nogales—Tucson district, Arizona and Mexico. Contemporaneous with northeast Texas and San Antonio. Be­ginning in 1691, the mission efforts spread far and wide and remarkable churches were built.

Fifth, the California group. They were built a day’s journey apart, 21 missions in all beginning in 1769 with the Mission San Diego de Alcala, now San Diego, and extending north of San Francisco.

The French mission center was at New Orleans, embracing Mobile to the east and Lafayette, La., to the west, and through settlements and influence were spread over that country. A Camino Real (King's Highway) is recorded from St. Louis to the Spanish Fort San Fernando (Caruthersville), then to the Spanish Campo de la Esperanza in Arkansas below Memphis. In South Louisiana, on the OST, is New Iberia, an Acadian French City. Near by is a lake known as Spanish Lake. Iberia is an ancient Spanish tribe name.

Road Conditions:

All State and Federal standard road and all will be paved by the summer of 1929. At present most of the pavement is laid.

No ferries. Maintenance is good, detours during paving con­struction well maintained. The Florida sector is one of the best examples of highway construction on the Old Spanish Trail.

Description of Country:

The eastern coastal section, palmetto plains and pinelands. This soon gives way to rolling hills, with live oak and other fine trees. Elevations reach 262 ft. at De Funiak Springs. There are rich farming sections, truck raising, pecan and satsuma orange orchards, shade tobacco, dairying and poultry. The little cities are paved, have nice public buildings, homes and parks, old trees shade the streets. Around Tallahassee many north­erners maintain large estates. The gulf shores, bays and water­ways are shaded with trees and are very attractive. Across Florida the drinking water is very good. In the western part pinelands again occur and lumbering has been a basic industry. Now homeseekers are flocking in and finding the Florida Old Spanish Trail territory good.

Old History:

San Agustin was settled in 1565, the oldest city in the United States. Ponce de Leon discovered and named Florida in 1512. The De Narvaez expedition landed at Tampa Bay in 1528 and De Soto in 1539, and both fought their way around westward in Old Spanish Trail territory to the Tallahassee country where De Narvaez turned south to escape by sea and De Soto turned north and wandered thru the south and west. De Soto’s body was buried in the Mississippi River, De Narvaez was lost in the Gulf of Mexico. Cabeza do Vaca, De Narvaez’ treasurer and three others, were the only survivors to reach Mexico and their story is told under “The El Paso Valley.” Ragged survivors of the De Soto expedition years later escaped down the Missis­sippi River and to Mexico.

There are records of 38 missions established out of St. Au­gustine, westward to Tallahassee and up into Georgia. They were probably of wood for no ruins are known except some of oyster shell cement north of Brunswick, Ga. De Luna landed at Pensacola Bay in 1559 with the largest expedition of them all but Indian enmity soon drove him back to Vera Cruz. While the Spaniards were exploring the Floridas other remark­able expeditions were moving northward from Mexico into Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Santa Fe became the second oldest city in the U. S., while others lay claim to existence back in the dim past. When the thirteen states were fighting for independence Spain controlled an empire south and west, and was building the California missions. Florida and Spanish until 1821, except for an English period 1763-1783; Spain sold Old Louisiana back to France in 1800; France sold to the U.S. in 1803; Texas independence was won in 1836 and that territory was annexed by the U.S. in 1845. The Mexican War was 1846-47. The New Mexico-Arizona-Southern California territory was ceded to the U.S. by Mexico in 1848. The Gadsden Purchase of part of southern New Mexico and Arizona was in 1853.

Road Conditions:

From the Florida line to Loxley, 22 mi., the road is under construction. Should be a completed gravel road summer 1929. From Loxley to Mobile, 24.5 mi., new sand-clay and paving. Mobile Bay is crossed by bridge and causeway. 10 1/2 mi. From Mobile to Mississippi line is paved. No ferries.

Description of Country:

South Alabama is high and rolling. Early Irish potatoes, cucumbers, and cabbages are shipped in large quantity. There are extensive orchards of pecans and satsuma oranges. Fishing and hunting fine among the waterways and coastal sections. The drinking water thru the country is soft and pure.

Old History:

Mobile was founded by the French in 1711 when Fort Louis de la Mobile was located at the site of the present city hall and armory. It takes its name from "Mauvila," Spanish form of the name of the Indian tribe whose valiant attack upon De Soto so nearly destroyed his expedition. Later Mobile was under the rule of the Spaniards. While the French were at Mobile and the Spanish at Pensacola a Spanish outpost was on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay where the bridge now lands—that spot is still called Spanish Fort.

Road Conditions:

Paved from the Alabama line to Bay St. Louis; then 28 ml of gravel to the Louisiana line.

Description of Country:

The eastern part is cut-over coastal plain pineland. From Ocean Springs to Bay St. Louis is the Gulf Boulevard section where the shore is lined with tine homes and hotels, and realty-resort development of a high order. A sea-wall and boulevard for 30 mi. along the coast. The gulf cities are all-year resorts.

Old History:

Biloxi was the first French settlement in Old Louisiana, 1699, and the first seat of government. Then they founded Mobile in 1711 and New Orleans in 1718. Later Spain ruled the territory.

Road Conditions:

The road across Louisiana well maintained gravel. 30 mi. are paved. No dirt sections. A toll bridge is completed across Lake Pontchartrain, 15 mi. including approaches, cost $5,500,000. Toll, see page 5. Ferry at Mississippi River, New Orleans and at Berwick Bay, Morgan City—the only ferries left on the Old Spanish Trail. Their service is constant and good. Loui­siana now has good roads serving the whole State.

Description of Country:

Louisiana east of Morgan City is the ancient delta of the Mississippi River. The country is threaded with bayous and the Old Spanish Trail rambles by them and across them. Soils are rich delta deposits. This is the old sugar plantation district and the Old South of legend and story. Old plantation homes, negro colonies and the French speaking classes thickly dot the bayou shores. Corn growing, fishing and fur industries are also important. Thousands of acres near the gulf are dyked--this is "Raceland's Little Holland."

From Morgan City to New Iberia the Old Spanish Trail runs along the Bayou Teche past old sugar plantations with the colonies of negroes still living In the cabins of slave days. Old live oaks, cypress and pecan shade the roads, homes and bayous. Some cotton, corn and rice thru here. At Lafayette all products mingle, then westward rice fields spread over the country. Southwest Louisiana is one of the greatest rice areas In the U.S. Water is pumped thru its network of canals to flood the lands. Lumber, salt and sulphur mines, and oil, are other sources of wealth.

In the eastern part are French and Acadian types and the French language, religion, cooking and habits are prominent. Public Improvements, schools and roads are good. In the west­ern part- people have settled from every state drawn by the rice industry. Their cities and homes are distinctively American.

There are thousands of miles of rivers, bayous, lakes, bays and inlets in South Louisiana. Roads among them are good. There are thousands of acres of wild life sanctuaries including the Sage and the Rockefeller preserves and private club pre­serves. Conservation has improved the sport for everyone.

Old History:

The French took command of the vast territory of Old Louisiana by establishing sovereignty over the Mississippi River in 1699. This move by the French divided the Spanish territory in two and became one of the decisive events In North American history. The first settlement was at Biloxi in 1699. In 1711 the French settled Mobile. 1718 they founded Nouvelle Orleans; the same year the Spanish settled San Antonio as an outpost to protect their western possessions. In the struggle of empires Louisiana was ceded to Spain in 1702. Spain took possession in 1709. Spain ceded Louisiana back to France in 1800. France sold to the United States In 1803. New Orleans as the frontier post on the mighty river that drains a half of the continent became the melting pot as all classes of people struggled for life, power or development on the North American continent.

Along the Bayou Teche is the Evangeline country immor­talized by Longfellow’s poem. The Acadians were exiled from Nova Scotia in 1755. Along this bayou today are Acadian homes, towns and cities. Under St. Martinville the story is more fully told.

Road Conditions:

East Texas will be nearly all paved by summer of 1929.

Description of Country:

East Texas is one of the richest sections on the Old Spanish Trail. Beaumont and Houston are developing industrial and financial leadership and growing fast. Houston's ship channel with Galveston at the entrance, carries exports of 17 railroads.

In the Sabine District are the Ports of Beaumont and Orange, Port Arthur and Port Neches, serving southeast Texas and contiguous states and themselves harboring big Industrial plants and expanding rapidly.

This Sabine District is one of the big oil producing, refin­ing, manufacturing, distributing and exporting centers of the U.S. Beaumont is also the commercial center of a rich agri­cultural and lumber region. Farm products of large acreage are sugar cane, figs, corn, cotton, peanuts, rice, satsuma oranges, truck, goats, sheep, cattle and poultry.

Texas is large. One-third of the Old Spanish Trail is in Texas. Travelers, seeing so much unsettled country, get mis­taken ideas. Texas has proven its agricultural fertility, yet its vast area is developed only in spots. In South and East Texas these areas offer unusual opportunities to the homeseeker and homeseekers are coming In large numbers. Hydro-electric power lines, oil pipe lines and natural gas lines total tens of thousands of miles and new lines being continually constructed. New hotels along the Old Spanish Trail just built or now building total over $30,000,000 In Texas alone.

West of Houston, to San Antonio, the rolling hills begin. This country is closely farmed, fertile, prosperous and pretty. The drinking water generally is good.

Old History:

The battlefield of San Jacinto is east of Houston. There Gen. Sam Houston and his band of Texas patriots destroyed the army of Santa Ana and won Texas freedom from Mexico, April 21, 1836. The first attempt to disarm the patriots was at Gonzales, now known as the “Lexington of Texas,” October 2, 1835. Then came the fall of the Alamo, March 6, 1836. and tho pursuit of Sam Houston’s little army by Santa Ana across Texas to the banks of the San Jacinto River where the rugged Texans swept thru the Mexicans and won this land for Americans.

Road Conditions:

This section is usually driven without hardship in two and three days. Well graded, well maintained gravel prevails; 200 mi. are paved. The roadbed is broad, grades and curves are comfortable. At Roosevelt for 12 mi. the Llano River is forded a dozen times on underwater concrete bridges; between the fords the old trail is maintained. A new road is to be built. This river trail with its spring water and shady groves is en­joyed by most people. Dry weather prevails in West Texas.

Description of Country:

The Old Spanish Trail westward from San Antonio cuts directly thru the Texas Hill Country to El Paso. The mileage Is shortened and the traveler enjoys the rugged hills and spark­ling waters that have made the Hill Country noted for Its cattle and goat ranches and popular for recreation. The ele­vation and the dry sunshine make the climate enjoyable and allow all-year outdoor sports and pleasures. Fourteen clearwater rivers are in West Texas. Bexar, Kendall. Kerr and Kimble counties have a thousand miles of spring-fed rivers and creeks. Very good drinking water prevails. Hotels serve generous country meals. Three new, fine hotels have just been built and others enlarged. Camps of all kinds are settling in the Hill Country-church encampments, auto, ranch and recreation camps, boys' and girls' character camps, boy and girl scouts and numerous other institutional camps. In the Davis Mts. the Madera Springs mountain club is developing with every convenience for all-year service and all kinds of pleasures and for Old Spanish Trail travel.

Old History:

In 1684 La Salle with a colonizing expedition from France sought the Mississippi River to take possession of the vast Mississippi Valley in the name of his king. He failed in this and landed in 1685 on the Texas coast. Spain learned of this colony on territory it claimed and in 1689 sent an expedition from Mexico; they reached the La Salle site and found La Salle had been murdered by his men and tho French were dead or gone away. A second expedition in 1690 continued northward and founded missions in the Nacogdoches district in East Texas. In 1699-1700 a group of missions was established south of tho Rio Grande between the present Eagle Pass and Laredo. In 1716-17 four new missions were established near Nacogdoches but Spain found Nacogdoches too remote an outpost so in 1718 the mission, now the historic Alamo, was transferred from the Rio Grande and a fort (presidio) was established near it— and San Antonio dates from this. In 1720. the Mission San Jose was established. In 1731 the Villa of San Fernando do Bexar (townsite) was started and the missions Concepcion, San Juan and San Francisco were transferred from the Nacogdoches district to the San Antonio River.

From San Antonio other missions were established over a wide area. Gradually tho outlying missions were abandoned or Indians destroyed them. The San Antonio missions grew into great establishments. Fine stone churches and other buildings and irrigating systems were built. Today the ruins bear mute testimony to great achievement. These enterprises, so deep in a savage land, were remarkable achievements even in that brilliant age.

The West Texas Hill Country is the most invigorating summer land in the South. Many inviting conditions combine for relaxation and health--elevations from 2,000 to 4000 ft., rugged hills and rock canyons, a clear sun­shine and gulf breezes, spring-fed brooks and rivers, good drinking water, fishing and camping, cow, ponies and hiking. Sheep, goat and cattle ranches spread out in all directions. All outdoors welcomes with its wild, primitive beauty.

When the route of the Old Spanish Trail across West Texas was planned this Hill Country, then wild and re­mote, was selected because of its unparalleled attraction for health, relaxation and sheer joy. Today this country offers the most delightful driving in Texas. Hotels, camps, vacation ranches and boarding houses now are numerous. The rugged hospitality of the West prevails. It is a country that paints roses on the cheeks of children and reddens the blood of men and women.

The Old Spanish Trail route across West Texas is the shortest, the most interesting: and best. It is 33 mi. shorter than the railroad and shorter than the southern route. Good driving conditions prevail. There are no bumper gates on the Spanish Trail to damage cars or distress inexperienced travel­ers.

These facts are emphasized because of travel complaint about misinformation. Texans themselves in large numbers seek the Old Spanish Trail Hill Country for relaxation and health. This alone will always assure good accommodations and service.

The El Paso—Santa Fe district is one of the five great centers of mission and colonization effort of the Spaniards and the second they started within the present U.S. In 1598 at El Paso del Norte (The Pass of the North) Don Juan do Onate with his followers took possession of this northern land for “himself. King Phillip II of Spain, and God,” then proceeded northward to colonize in the Santa Fe district. Santa Fe dates from 1605. For several generations the Spaniards developed their Interests around Albuquerque and Santa Fe. In 1659 the Mission of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe was established at El Paso del Norte, now the church of Juarez. In 1680 the Indians rose in the Great Rebellion around Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The Spanish and Christian Indian survivors of the massacre fled to the mission at Paso del Norte nearly 400 ml. away. With this the real history of El Paso and that Interesting valley begins. The valley towns of Ysleta, Socorro and San Ellzario below El Paso were slowly established, mothered by the Mission Guadalupe. They date about 1683. The industry always fostered by the padres, the irrigation and the produc­tiveness of the Valley led to extensive development. The drive around this old district today is an interesting education to Old Spanish Trail travelers. The towns lie on the American side near Ysleta. The El Paso Chamber of Commerce women’s department issues an interesting booklet with map.

Slowly after the rebellion New Mexico was reclaimed and Santa Fe today enjoys historical distinction as the second oldest city in the U.S. El Paso on the American side came into existence after the Mexican War of 1816-17 and Texas Annexation and the old Paso del Norte became Juarez. The old trail from Mexico City to Santa Fe (the Camino Real or King’s Highway) is in this section a part of the Old Spanish Trail of today. It is believed Cabeza de Vaca and his three companions traveled thru the Pass in 1536. These were the only survivors of the ill-fated De Narvaez expedition that landed in proud array at Tampa Bay to take possession of the Floridas. They fought their way around to the Talla­hassee country. At St. Mark’s Bay, south of Tallahassee, they gladly escaped the country in crudely constructed boats and tried to reach Mexico. Storms and the great current in the gulf or the Mississippi River beset them; De Narvaez was drowned, the survivors were wrecked on tho Texas shore and soon only De Vaca and three others survived Indian pursuit and hardship. For six years they were slaves to improvident Indians, then escaped caross(sp) Texas. Central Texas Indians thought De Vaca a god and swarms followed him. In western Mexico he reached his Spanish compatriots. This strange pilgrimage is believed to have gone thru this pass in the mountains. De Vaca's story is one of the epics of history.

Road Conditions:

Pavement El Paso to Las Cruces, then Federal Aid gravel across the State. Old trail west from Mesilla Park now replaced with new road thru Las Cruces to Deming. Maintenance across New Mexico is good.

Description of Country:

Up the Rio Grande Valley to Las Cruces are irrigated districts of the Elephant Butte reservoir; Las Cruces is a commercial center for these sections and a nice little city. Most of the section westward from Las Cruces is sandy desert relieved at times by mountain peaks. Some irrigation, not much. Some stock raising. Silver and copper are mined. Deming and Lordsburg are busy little cities. Travel conveniences are along the way. The drinking water is soft and good.

Old History:

The Spanish trail of ancient days and the overland trail of pioneer and stage coach days crossed about as the highway of today runs. Spanish works were confined to the Rio Grande Valley, El Paso to Santa Fe. Their next important seat of effort was the Santa Cruz Valley in northern Mexico and thru Nogales to Tucson.

In far West Texas and across New Mexico and parts of Arizona and California are arid areas crossed by the Old Spanish Trail often referred to as deserts. They are not de­serted. Cities of refinement reach hands across these lands for many love the mystery and life and sunshine of the Southwest while the soils need only the magic touch of water to spring into life as fruitful as the oases of Biskra or the garden spots of Arabia. Mountains rear their crests with friendly greeting and nature plays her undefinable colors on their rugged sides. The sands are redeemed by the graceful mesquite, the tangled visnaga, the bayonet shaped yucca and its bouquet of white bloom in spring, the cacti of a hundred mystic types and their delicate flowering, the ironwood blossoms, the flaming flower of the ocatillas that grow mysteriously and proudly among the rocks. Strangeness, mystery and vastness; it is the dwelling place of the Great Spirit!

Irrigation is spreading its broad mantle, joining with, sun­ shine and fertility, and the sands leap to life and send products of incredible variety to the tables of the frozen north. Ft. Stockton and Balmorhea, Texas, are gardens in the desert watered by great springs. The Rio Grande Valley thru Ft. Hancock, Fabens, Ysleta, Juarez, EI Paso, Mesilla and Las Cruces is redeemed and enriched by the big Elephant Butte reservoir In New Mexico, 110 mi. north of El Paso, Southern New Mexico is still unredeemed but underground reservoirs reached by shal­low wells underlie great areas. On westward Mormons are irrigating along the San Pedro River. Irrigation is around Tucson. Westward at Florence the great Coolidge Dam is build­ing to transform more areas of hot sands into semi-tropical gardens of wealth. The Salt River Valley around Phoenix and its green fields and colorful life breaks on the desert traveler like a benediction; the Roosevelt reservoir that mothers it all seems a distant sacrament. Over in California the sandy bed of the old Salton Sea is now the Imperial Valley growing green gold. The desert is not deserted. A great highway gives com­fortable travel thru it and travel service is plentiful along the way. Soft, fine drinking water prevails in this sandy country with but a few places not so fortunate.

Road Conditions:

The road across Arizona is well built and well maintained; gravel prevails. Paving is being extended.

Description of Country:

The scenery thru the eastern part is varied and interesting—majestic mountains and rich mining districts; deserts that at­tract by their varied cacti growths and deserts turned to green fields by irrigation. West of Buckeye dry sands and a drab country are traveled to Yuma but small hotels, auto service, camp sites and cabin camps have developed along the way. The people are hospitable. The drive is an interesting experience.

Arizona is but 10 yrs. old as a state. Its industry, mining, agriculture, education, road and city building are examples of American enterprise. Numerous ranch resorts are in the moun­tains and valleys. In summer the elevation cools the tempera­ture. In winter southern sunshine instead of snow and ice.

Old History:

The Santa Cruz Valley—Tucson, Nogales, and into Mexico—was one of the great seats of mission and colonizing effort by the Spaniards. Numerous missions were in that territory. Some still remain in Mexico south of Nogales. The beginning in Arizona was in 1692. The Mission San Xavier del Bac, 9 mi. south of Tucson, was apparently founded in 1700. The building, which still stands and functions as a church, restored after years of disaster and neglect, was one of the finest structures erected by the padres in the New World. From the Santa Cruz Valley mission works were extended across Arizona to Yuma, down the Gila Valley of the Old Spanish Trail of today. From this base also the expedition started that founded San Francisco in 1776. The great mission chain along the California coast had been started in 1769 at San Diego.

In this Arizona, New Mexico and Northwest Texas country Coronado and his princely expedition spent three years, 1540-42, searching for the Cities of Gold and the land of the Gran Quivira.

The general course of the Gila River is now followed to Yuma where the Colorado and the Gila join and the Colorado was crossed to California. The bleak sands and their drab surroundings are a monotonous journey, but they are soils that only await irrigation to transform this desert as others have been. Down the Gila the barefoot padres plodded carrying their storv to the Indians. Many missions were established: 48,000 Indians were reported converted. The Santa Cruz Valley missions below Tucson were their seat of effort: from and thru that section the conquistadores marched to conquer and settle California and the padres to plant the missions along the Pa­cific Coast. A Spanish expedition over this trail in 1776 settled San Francisco. Later the restless Americans flowed along this river trail in the gold rush and the pioneer days, and it was the route of the stage coach and mule trains and Yuma a stage station. The Gila River was a thread of life across the desert. Gen. Kearny marched this way in 1810. John C. Fremont and Kit Carson traveled it. The amazing Mormon battalion Passed this way from Missouri to San Diego. The Apaches fought with desperation and courage, but the West was conquered.

Road Conditions:

Pavement and oiled gravel, with a short section of de­composed granite—all good driving. The Sand Hills, one of the real deserts and long a terror to travelers, now good pave­ment. The Mountain Springs grade with its steep climbs now concrete.

Description of Country:

The Old Spanish Trail in California is close to the Mexican Border for many miles. West from Yuma 7 mi. and 1 1/2 mi. south on the border are the head gates of the Imperial Valley irrigation; the water comes thru Mexico. Across the line is Algodones, Mexico, with seven saloons, one it is claimed cost­ing $47,000. South of Holtville and El Centro are the Mexican border towns of Calexico and Mexicali. In the Imperial Valley the traveler is 50 ft. below sea level in the bed of the old Salton Sea; shortly the mountains are crossed at 4,103 ft. elevation; thru the mountains are resorts and camps a-top the world; at San Diego and the sea are hills and valleys.

Old History:

San Diego is the end of the Old Spanish Trail and the beginning of the last works of the Spanish in the U.S. In 1769 the San Diego mission was founded—201 yrs. after St. Augustine. During the American Revolution the Spanish were build­ing that great chain of missions up the California coast.

Poets sing of the padres and their missions along this Golden Coast. San Diego has a monument to Father Junipero Serra who administrated the mission building enterprises. Helen Jackson’s “Ramona” is a romantic story of the mission period and its fall. Here at San Diego also you may look down into the “Wishing Well” as you did at St. Augustine and let your spirit for the moment dwell with those of that bygone and romantic age.