Juniper Serra Museum — Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"Zoom out. What’s this place all about? This museum at the top of the hill in historic Presidio Park was built in the 1920s on the remnants of the first Spanish presidio (fort) and settlement that were established in California in 1769. Father Junipero Serra, a Franciscan priest, is credited with founding the first mission in the region. The presidio was abandoned in the late 1800s, and over the years the hill was overtaken by nature. In the early 1900s, developer George Marston planned to develop a museum at Presidio Park to commemorate the site’s history, and he accomplished this in 1929. The Junipero Serra Museum is small and intimate, and modeled in the architectural design of a Spanish mission from Serra’s time. Today it’s a popular wedding venue for locals, and the museum’s exterior archways and columns are a local landmark. Out-of-towners who enjoy museums or want to experience a historic attraction without any crowds will appreciate it. The museum has limited hours–it’s open only on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but the courtyard, park grounds and terrace can still be enjoyed when the museum is closed. The museum is operated by the San Diego History Center, and they request a $5 donation for admittance. A museum's permanent collection is its defining feature: How was this one? There’s a mix of video and touch-screen installations, artwork and kiosks that outline the area’s history, from the indigenous Kumeyaay people–who have been living here for thousands of years before European contact–to the Spanish explorers and missionaries that settled in San Diego and Southern California in the 1700s. Large touch screens on the main floor offer interactive timelines, slideshows and maps, and there are also artifacts on display that have been unearthed during excavations on the site, as well as interpretative displays on local ecosystems and wildlife. Exhibits keep us coming back. What can we expect? It’s easy to navigate at your own pace, and the large terrace overlooking Mission Valley and Interstate 8 gives you a view of the San Diego River meeting the edge of the Pacific Ocean. A helpful new informational kiosk that was installed here provides a backstory to the history of the valley and the San Diego River Watershed. Although it’s a small museum, it’s a bit off the beaten path and feels like a hidden gem in the neighborhood. What did you make of the crowd? It’s not crowded, and the visitors who come in are a mix of museum aficionados and local families. Everyone seemed to take their time in the space, reading the displays and interacting with the touch-screens. The outside courtyard, and terrace are popular spots for photo ops. On the practical tip, how were the facilities? There are benches on the ground floor in the middle of the main exhibit room, which are the only places to sit inside the museum. Several staircases take you through the museum’s five floors, and since it’s an old building there are no elevators–it’s not recommended for people with mobility issues. Any guided tours worth trying? No guided or audio tours are available. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it? There is no gift shop onsite. Is the café worth a stop? There is no cafe or restaurant on site, but the museum is just minutes away from Old Town and the Mission Hills neighborhood, which has plenty of dining options such as Fort Oak. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? One can easily experience this museum in less than an hour without feeling rushed. When you’re done exploring the main exhibit hall, head to the fifth floor for the views from inside the tower. You’ll want to get a photo of the courtyard outfront and spend some time on the breezy terrace. Just outside the museum’s front door is a vintage wooden wine press from Mallorca that dates back to the 1700s."