El Presidio Reál de San Diego (or Royal Presidio of San Diego) is a historical fort that was first established on May 14, 1769 by Commandant Pedro Fages, under authority of the King of Spain. The site of the original Presidio currently lies on a hill within present-day Presidio Park, between the outlet of Mission Valley and Old Town San Diego. Presidio Park is a National Historic Landmark.
The Presidio was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Coast of what is now the United States. It was also the base of operations for the Spanish colonization of California, achieved through the development of missions, presidios, and pueblos. The Presidio served as the base for exploration throughout California's interior and it remained the seat of military power in California through the Mexican period.
Nearby, just up the hill from the Presidio site is the Serra Museum, which is maintained by the San Diego Historical Society.
