Soldados de Cuera, Native Californians and a Franciscan father depicting Saint Junípero Serra, came together on a hill high above San Diego - the original site of the first Mission and Presidio type garrison in Alta California - to commemorate what many call the Founding of California, exactly 250 years ago today.

Among others, the City of San Diego uses this date, July 16, as its official birthdate, and today, along with the rest of California, it celebrates its 250th Birthday.

Not only was Alta California's first Mission and Presidio founded on this date, but also came the official recognition of the adjacent ocean port and the seeds of a united California under the Spanish, and later Mexican and U.S. flags. The San Diego area Kumeyaay, and other native communities, also contributed greatly to the building of these historic buildings, and to the success of California.

"July 16 is an important date in California history," said David Bolton, Executive Director of California Missions Foundation, organizers of the California 250 Reenactment Ceremony.  "On this date in 1769, Spain began its efforts to unify all of the people of this region under the California name and Spanish flag."