BGuthrie Photos: CA -- San Diego -- Mission San Diego de Alcalá

CA -- San Diego -- Mission San Diego de Alcalá:

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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. ALCALA_070724_011.JPG: The Facade: As a result of the Indian attack of 1775, Padre Serra returned during the summer of 1776 to initiate the reconstruction of Mission San Diego. The church and buildings were rebuilt and the Mission flourished for a number of years. Earthquakes in the early 1800s destroyed most of the adobe buildings and church. The structures were rebuilt and buttress wings were added in 1812 to strengthen the facade of the church. By the early 1920s, portions of the walls adjoining the buttresses, the campanario, and the baptistry were the only walls that remained standing. The doors are replicas made of redwood and the carving are taken from actual designs that were on the original doors. The emblem over the door is the papal insignia and signifies that Mission San Diego is a minor basilica. This honor was bestowed on the Mission by Pope Paul VI in 1976. The statues in the niches along the corridor represent the nine missions founded by Padre Serra, in chronological order. Each statue represents the saint for whom the mission was named.
2. ALCALA_070724_027.JPG: California's First Mission Founded July 16, 1769 by Junípero Serra OFM San Diego Chapter, DAR San Diego Chapter, SAR
3. ALCALA_070724_029.JPG: El Camino Real This plaque is placed on the 250th anniversary of the birth of California's apostle, Padre Junípero Serra, OFM, to mark the southern terminus of El Camino Real as Padre Serra knew it and helped to blaze it. 1713-November 24-1963 California Registered Historical Landmark No. 784 Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with the Committee for El Camino Real, December 29, 1963.
4. ALCALA_070724_032.JPG: 1784-1814 Mission San Diego de Alcalá Founded 16 July 1769 by Fray Junípero Serra, OFM The third church on this site, begun in 1808, was dedicated 12 November 1813. Plaque placed 12 November 1981 by California State Society United States Daughters of 1812 for their 75th anniversary. Marian Bradford Kaump, State President.
5. ALCALA_070724_034.JPG: Mission San Diego de Alcalá California's First Mission Founded by Father Junípero Serra -- July 1769 Reconstructed by the generous aid of the citizens of San Diego, 1931 Fully restored by the charity of the Hearst Foundation, 1945 (?) Rededicated to the glory of god and the salvation of souls by its re-establishment as a parish church under the title Mission San Diego de Alcalá, 1941. This plaque presented by the Ali Caravan No. 114, San Diego Order of the Alhambra May 15, 1961 (?)
6. ALCALA_070724_035.JPG: To the memory of Fray Junípero Serra, OFM on July 16, 1769, he founded and established Mission San Diego de Alcalá He thus formed the link between his home city of Petra de Mallorca, Spain, with the first of the great missions in Alta California. Presented to the Citizens of Petra De Mallorca, Spain by the Citizens of San Diego, California, during their bicentennial year 1969.
7. ALCALA_070724_054.JPG: Mission San Diego de Alcalá: On Sunday, July 16, 1769 Fathers Junípero Serra, Juan Viscaino and Fernando Parron raised and blessed a cross to establish Alta California's first mission. Relocated from Presidio Hill to this site in August 1774, the Mission was the mother of those founded in California by the Franciscan order. The present buildings, first completed in 1813, were rebuilt in stages from 1915 to 1931 after many years of deterioration. They have been in use as a parish church since February 1941. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 242 Originally registered June 10, 1936. Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Diocese of San Diego and Squibob Chapter e Clampus Vitus, Sunday, July 16, 1989.
8. ALCALA_070724_055.JPG: Spanish Exploration: 1542: Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovered Point Loma and the bay and named the area San Miguel in observance of St. Michael's Feast Day. 1602: Sebastian Viscaino sailed into the harbor and explored the coastal and inland regions. In celebration of St. Didacus' Feast Day, Viscaino renamed the area San Diego. 1769: Fearing encroachment of the California lands by Russian fur traders, the King of Spain decided that outposts should be established along the Alta California coast to secure the lands for Spain. The Franciscan padres joined the venture because they saw it as an opportunity to spread Christianity among the native peoples. During the spring and summer, two expeditions by land and two by sea arrived in San Diego. In July, the camp was moved from the bay to a hill near the Indian village of Cosoy, on what is now known as the Presidio. On July 16, Padre Serra and his fellow Franciscan priests celebrated Mass and dedicated the site of the first mission in Alta California -- Mission San Diego de Alcalá -- the Mother of the Missions.
9. ALCALA_070724_058.JPG: Padres' Living Quarters: The earliest adobe buildings at Mission San Diego were built in the fall of 1774 and it is believed that this room was a section of one long building, used as the padres' living quarters, constructed during that time. The original adobe walls and wooden beams are still visible and it is believed that this is the only building that survived the Indian attack, earthquakes, military occupation, and years of abandonment virtually intact. Named in honor of Padre Serra, the rectory has been furnished to illustrate the simple lifestyle of the padres. Two priests were usually assigned o the Mission. One priest was in charge of administering the Mission and its lands and the other priest was responsible for the religious education of the local Indian people.
10. ALCALA_070724_063.JPG: Padres' living quarters
11. ALCALA_070724_243.JPG: The Garden: The garden became a focal part of the Mission after the rebuilding of the church in 1931. Represented in this garden are various plants such as palm trees, bougainvillea, aloe vera and roses. Within the garden are crosses made from original mission tiles placed here in remembrance of all the Indian neophytes who died during the mission period. The statue of St. Joseph represents the patron saint of the expedition to San Diego. Many people believe he miraculously saved the expedition and prevented the abandonment of the Mission after a novena of prayers for the arrival of a supply ship was offered by the padres and soldiers in March of 1770 under Padre Serra's guidance. On March 19, St. Joseph's Feast Day, a ship was sighted on the horizon. The ship was headed for Monterey but sailed into San Diego because of the loss of an anchor. The men were spared from starvation and the sacred expedition to establish missions in Alta California continued. Fr. Antonio Ubach and the Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet conducted an Indian school at the Mission from 1891 to 1908. The large white building to the west of the garden was used as a girls dormitory. The wishing well statue of St. Francis of Assisi represents the founder of the Franciscan Order. Saint Francis dedicated his life to preaching, teaching the faith, caring of the sick, loving nature and restoring abandoned churches. The padres who established and worked in the 21 missions in Alta California were Franciscan.
12. ALCALA_070724_263.JPG: The Campanario: The Campanario is 46 feet high and holds the Mission bells. The crown-toped bell on the lower left is named Ave Maria Purisima -- Immaculate Mary. It weighs 805 pounds and was cast in 1802. A crown-topped bell was usually supplied by the Spanish King and cast in the royal foundry in Barcelona at the King's expense or made in a country ruled by Spain. Ave Maria Purisima was in the vestibule of St. Joseph's church and was hung in the campanario after the reconstruction of Mission San Diego in 1931. The bell on the lower left is called Mater Dolorosa -- Our Lady of Sorrows. It weigh 1200 pounds and was recast by the Standard Iron Works of San Diego in 1894 from bell fragments found in the vicinity of the Mission. The bells played an important role in the everyday life of the Mission. A sequence of tones and rhythms was developed for each occasion. They were used to announce times for Mass, work, meals, and siestas. The bells signaled danger, rang solemnly to honor the dead and pealed joyously to celebrate feast days, weddings, and fiestas.
13. ALCALA_070724_318.JPG: This is where the actual museum starts
14. ALCALA_070724_327.JPG: Ruins of the Mission, circa 1885
15. ALCALA_070724_362.JPG: Mission attacked
16. ALCALA_070724_365.JPG: Mission Attacked: San Diego de Alcalá was the only of the 21 Missions to be attacked by Native Americans. On November 5, 1775, as many as 600 Indians descended upon the mission after midnight where Padre Luis Jayme, Padre Vincente Fuster and nine other individuals were asleep. What perhaps began as a raid on the mission for clothing and goods quickly developed into an open attack that sought to destroy the mission. Awakened by the attack, Padre Luis Jayme approached the group of Indians and greet them by saying, "Love God, my children." As the Indians continued to burn the mission, several individuals seized Father Jayme and beat him to death. Father Jayme became California's first Christian martyr. The next morning, survivors from the attack collected the wounded and found Father Jayme's badly disfigured body near the river. Also killed in the attack were the blacksmith, Jose Romero, and a carpenter named Urselino.
17. ALCALA_070724_369.JPG: Father Junípero Serra: Born November 24, 1713 in Petra on the island of Mallorca, Spain. He entered the Franciscan Order at age 16 and became a priest in 1738. Padre Junípero earned his doctorate in theology and taught philosophy at the Franciscan convent in Palm until 1749 when he left for the new world to become a missionary. Father Serra arrived in the Americas on December 18, 1749 and was assigned to the College of Juan Fernando in Mexico City in 1768. In 1768, he was named Superior of the Franciscan Friars who were to Christianize Baja and Alta California. Father Serra founded the Mission of San Fernando Velicata in Baja and Alta California and then Mission San Diego de Alcalá in Alta California. This Mission was established on July 16,1769 and it is the first of nine missions that were founded by Father Serra in Alta California. Father Serra died on August 28, 1784 at Mission San Carlos Borromeo, in Carmel, California.
18. ALCALA_070724_372.JPG: Discovery: Captain Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo under orders of the Spanish Monarch to search the North West World Coast of California for a passage to the Atlantic Ocean entered the harbor of San Diego on September 28, 1542. He named the area San Miguel for the Saint whose feast was celebrated on that day. Cabrillo's stay was short and he continued north to try to accomplish his objectives. For nearly sixty years, this harbor lay untouched by the Europeans until Captain Sebastian Viscaino anchored his Flagship, San Diego, in the bay on November 10, 1602. Viscaino was in search of pearls and was instructed to survey the area. On November 12, the Captain along with a chaplain and a small party, went ashore and celebrated Mass in honor of Saint Didicus of Alcalá whose feast day was the following day and for whom the region was promptly named.
19. ALCALA_070724_379.JPG: Founding 1769: In 1768, a decision was made by the delegates of King Carlos III of Spain, to occupy Alta California, specifically San Diego and Monterey. This decision was made for fear that the Russians would expand out from Alaska and into Spanish territory. Four expeditions were sent out, two by land and two by sea to secure the entire Northwest Coast through the Right of Discovery. Captain Gaspar de Portola was placed in command of both sea and land expeditions by Inspector General Jose de Galvez. On January 9, 1769, the San Carlos set sail from La Paz under the command of Vincent Vila and a month later the San Antonio sailed under Juan Perez. The Land Expeditions departed as the ships sailed. Captain Fernando de Rivera led one party and the second party was under the leadership of Portola and accompanied by Father Serra. On April 11, 1769, the San Antonio dropped anchor in San Diego Bay. The Rivera land party arrived on May 4. The San Carlos was forced off course by a storm and arrived with most of its crew lost to scurvy. By July 1, 1769, Father Serra had arrived and united all of the expedition parties. Temporary structures were built to house those who were weakened by the grueling travel until permanent structures could be built. A site was chosen near the Indian village of Cosoy, which overlooked San Diego Bay. It was at this site that Padre Serra raised the cross on July 16, 1769 and said Mass to formally establish Mission San Diego de Alcalá.
20. ALCALA_070724_383.JPG: Indian grinding stones
21. ALCALA_070724_386.JPG: The history of the San Diego area reflects five periods of occupation: * Kumeyaay Indian * Spanish Mission * Mexican Secularization * American Military * 20th Century Restoration
22. ALCALA_070724_396.JPG: The Chapel: The chapel was built in 1977 and houses choir staffs, a throne and altar that came from Carmelite monastery in Plasencia, Spain and date back to the 1300s. The choir stalls are grooved and fit so that no nails are used to hold them together. The seats raise up to allow the monks to stand in place while singing. The eagle on the throne signifies strength and victory and is a symbol of the Resurrection. The floor of the chapel came from Our Lady of Guadeloupe Basilica in Mexico City. The cross is made of granite and the remaining areas are covered in cantera stone.
23. ALCALA_070724_408.JPG: The Chapel (1977)
24. ALCALA_070724_420.JPG: Saint Didacus - San Diego: Diego was born in San Nicolas del Puerto in the Spanish province of Andalusia in 1400. When of age, he joined the Franciscan Order and went to the Canary Islands as a missionary. In 1450, Fray Diego travelled to Rome and served as infirmarian at a Franciscan friary and many miraculous cures occurred during his stay. Fray Diego returned to Spain in 1460 and became the infirmarian at the University of Alcalá near Madrid where he cared for the students and poor. Fray Diego died at the University in 1463 and was buried there. On April 19, 1562 Carlos -- the son of King Felipe II of Spain -- was severely injured in a fall and was close to death. The century old incorrupt body of Fray Diego was placed in bed with Carlos while the Franciscans prayed. In the morning, Carlos awakened and attributed his recovery to the vision of a Franciscan friar he had seen while unconscious. The King and his son petitioned Rome to have Fray Diego declared a saint. In 1588, after researching the miracles, Fray Diego was declared a saint -- Known as St. Didacus in Latin and English -- and November 13 was identified as his Feast Day.
25. ALCALA_070724_429.JPG: The Mission Indians: The Native Americans of Southern California are officially listed as Mission Indians by the Federal Government. This designation has no reference to their tribal origin but rather to the fact that most of these Indians had been Christianized at the missions. In the San Diego area, these Indians -- the Kumeyaay -- were linguistically related to the Yuman Indians. The padres at the Mission called the Indians "Dieguenos" to show they were associated with Mission San Diego. The Diegueno Indians were primarily seed-gatherers and acorns were an important part of their diet. Matates and manos, made of stone, were used to grind the seeds into flour. Deer, rabbits, squirrels, rats, snakes, frogs, and shellfish supplemented their diet, as well as fruits, berries, and vegetables when possible. Along the coast, families were likely to occupy huts of tules. Inland, the huts were made of brush or branches. The padres attracted the Indian natives to the Mission by offering them food, clothing, blankets, and beads. Once the natives joined the Mission community, they became neophytes and were instructed in the Catholic faith. The men learned agriculture, carpentry, and blacksmithing. The women learned cooking and weaving. The padres encouraged the observance of many feast days and as a result, processions, fiestas, games, and celebrations were frequent.
26. ALCALA_070724_445.JPG: The Pieta: Thirteenth Station of the Cross: The Via Dolorosa Society was organized to stimulate and encourage thoughtful devotion to the historically significant event that occurred over two thousand years ago -- the birth of Christianity. This event change the course of history. The goal of the Society is to enhance the growth of spirituality and encourage Ecumenism. To this end, the Society is presently occupied in the production of life size bronze works of art depicting the fourteen stations of the Cross or stopping places, of Jesus' journey from Pilate's Practorium to His death on Calvary. This project is an artistic endeavor to create approximately 60 bronze figures that will promote a strong sense of presence. The Society seeks the support not only of those who are devoted to the Passion of Jesus Christ, but also fine art enthusiasts, students and casual observers regardless of their religious affiliation. You are encouraged to "please touch" and be touched.
27. ALCALA_070724_463.JPG: What happened to the convento after the end of the mission era (1774-1835)? After the mission was placed under the control of government officials in 1835, the population dramatically decreased, and many buildings soon fell into ruins. Despite the efforts of local settlers, priests, and Indians, the complex had been completely deserted by 1846. After the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), the United States Government took over the mission buildings. They decided to use the remaining structures, including part of the convento, as an army barracks. During the United States Civil War, the mission was given back to the Catholic church. The surviving buildings were abandoned for a second time. The only structure that retained its roof was the "Serra Room" that now stands near the church. During the 20th century, much of the remainder of the mission was restored.
28. ALCALA_070724_478.JPG: What happens to the artifacts that you recover? All of the artifacts from this site remain the property of the Mission San Diego. In order to ensure the value of the collections from this excavation, the investigators take great care to document their work. The researchers keep careful records of their routine activities as well as their exciting discoveries. Every original surface we encounter is drawn, photographed, and recorded in daily field notes. These records will also be placed on file for the use of future researchers and scholars. After they are unearthed, the objects are carefully washed and dried. Every artifact is described and recorded. Some special objects are given more elaborate kinds of analysis. After they are cleaned and studied, the artifacts will be added to the holdings of the mission museum.
29. ALCALA_070724_481.JPG: Do you find any bodies? The possibility of the excavators discovering a human burial in this part of the site is even less likely than our finding precious metals. During the mission era, there were rules about where a person could be buried. It was extremely important that an individual be entombed on holy ground. As a result, bodies were interred in formal cemeteries or inside a church. While there was more than one cemetery at the mission over its long history, there is no record of one being located in, or around, the convento. As a result, we do not expect to find any human remains within our study area.
30. ALCALA_070724_484.JPG: Do you find any gold or treasure? No. The missionaries received a small stipend from the Spanish government in Mexico to support their efforts. However, the value of supplies, such as textiles, pottery and metal, that were sent from Mexico, was deducted from these funds. Almost no coins were sent to the missionaries in California. Although they had taken vows of poverty, the Franciscans did possess, as a group, many fine objects for use in religious worship. When the missions were secularized in 1834, the friars took pains to see that these precious objects were entrusted to safe storage away from the mission. It is also important to recognize that the missionaries considered everything that existed at the settlement to be property of the Indian people who comprised their parish. When funds were available, they used the money for their benefit.
31. ALCALA_070724_487.JPG: What do you find and how often do you make discoveries? We make discoveries every time we dig. In addition to the many architectural features such as old floors, filled-in doorways, and filled-in windows, we unearth a lot of artifacts. The upper layers are filled with objects left behind by the U.S. Army. For example, we have found the sole of an army shoe, a horse harness buckle, percussion caps, ration cans, and glass. We have also found many things that were used during the mission era. These include Chinese porcelain, tin-glazed pottery, shell beads, a spinning whorl, broken animal bones (from meals), charcoal, plainware pottery, and stone tools. We also unearth large amounts of building rubble such as broken tile, adobe bricks, cement and wall plaster. Each of these items help us to determine what life was like at the mission.
32. ALCALA_070724_490.JPG: What am I looking at? The tiled area directly before you represents the remains of a building created about 1806. This convento, or friary, is the place where the Franciscan missionaries lived. This structure probably included the private bedrooms for two friars, a general reception area, a dining room, a library, a house chapel, rooms for the friars' assistants, and perhaps some office space and storerooms. This convento was completed during the same period as the church to your right. It was a single long building that had a complex floor plan. The structure's walls, which stood more than a story and a half in height, were made of adobe. The roof was made of rounded red tile. Thing wing originally consisted of a single row of chambers, but was later expanded to include two rows of rooms. All that remains of the original building is "Serra's Room" located to your right, near the church. If you look at the height and width of this building, you can imagine how the larger structure looked during the mission heyday of 1810-1830.
33. ALCALA_070724_496.JPG: How do you know where to dig? Archeologists use many different kinds of evidence to decide where to dig. These include historical records, old photographs, and the presence of large mounds (made up of fallen adobe walls). Excavators were probably first drawn to this part of the site by clues found on a map made about 1821. This plan shows the buildings of the mission, but does not provide us with information about how all the buildings were used. Archeological investigations of the site began here, in the convento ruins, around 1965. This area of the mission had not been covered by modern structures. The excavations uncovered the tile floor of the convento that lie before you. The floor plan of the building matches the one shown on the 1821 map. The artifacts that were recovered suggested that the structure had served [as] a home for the missionaries.
34. ALCALA_070724_501.JPG: Is this the original mission? Yes and no. The original Mission San Diego de Alcalá was founded by Father Junípero Serra at a site shared with San Diego Presidio in 1769. The friars moved the mission to this location in 1774 because of an insufficient supply of water, and friction between the Indians and the soldiers. The first mission buildings were constructed of poles and reeds. These temporary structures burned to the ground when Indians attacked the settlement in 1775. The next year, the mission was rebuilt using adobe bricks. The new constructions were laid out in the shape of a square, surrounded by a fortified wall. Over time, new adobe buildings took the places of the older structures. By 1790, the fortifications had been eliminated. Each year, additional structures were added to the exterior of the quadrangle. San Diego Mission has had at least four different churches and three different conventos. The convento before you is not the earliest, however is was clearly in use before 1810.
35. ALCALA_070724_505.JPG: Welcome to the Mission San Diego Excavation Project: At the direction of this active Catholic Parish, the Center for Spanish Colonial Research, a non-profit organization, is excavating the western wing of the old mission quadrangle. The goals of this project are to learn about the history of the mission and to preserve and to stabilize the site. Future plans for the exposed ruins may include restoration and the development of a mission museum. This dig is a continuation of earlier archeological projects, which were suspended before 1990. The present investigation, which resumed in July of 2002, is open every Saturday, weather permitting, from 9:00am until 5:00pm. This work is performed by volunteers. Members of the public are welcome to participate. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Dr. Jack Williams at (858) 692-4926 or espadaancha@yahoo.com
36. ALCALA_070724_563.JPG: Padre Luis Jayme: Born Melchor Jayme on October 18, 1740 in the farming village of San Juan, Majorca, Spain. In 1760 he was received into the Franciscan Order and chose "Luis" as his religious name. Padre Jayme became pastor of the Mission San Diego in 1771 and was instrumental in moving the Mission inland from the Presidio to the present site in August of 1774. By December of that year, a number of adobe and thatch buildings were constructed. Crops were planted and many natives joined the mission life and were baptized as Christians. Progress was being made until the early morning hours of November 5, 1775 when hundreds of natives from surrounding rancherias set fire to the Mission buildings, pillaged the church, and cruelly murdered Padre Jayme as he met them with his usual greeting, "Amar a Dios, hijos -- Love God my children!" Padre Jayme became California's first Christian martyr because of his self-sacrifice, devotion, faith and love. His remains are buried in the sanctuary of the church at Mission San Diego de Alcalá.
37. ALCALA_070724_566.JPG: Grave of Padre Luis Jayme
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Wikipedia Description: Mission San Diego de Alcalá
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mission San Diego de Alcalá was founded on July 16, 1769, the first in the twenty-one Alta California mission chain established by Father Presidente Junípero Serra; today it is known as "California's First Church." Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno named San Diego Bay San Diego de Alcalá when he made landfall there, some ten miles from the present Mission site, in 1602. The Mission was the site of the first Christian burial in Alta California, and of the first public execution.

The Kumeyaay Indians rebelled against Spanish rule, and attacked the Mission on November 5, 1775. Father Luís Jayme, who had been left behind to run the Mission while Father Serra moved on to found other missions, was killed, making him California's first Christian martyr. Peace eventually settled over the area, and by 1797, there were approximately 1,400 Kumeyaay living in the vicinity of the Mission proper. Wheat, corn, wine grapes, barley, beans, cattle, horses, and sheep were the major crops. In 1795, construction on a system of aqueducts was begun to bring water to the fields and the Mission (the first irrigation project in Upper California). The builder manager was Fray Pedro Panto, who was poisoned by his Indian cook Nazario before the project was completed.

After Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, it decided that it was not profitable to maintain the missions. The Mexican Congress' Act for the Secularization of the Missions of California was ratified in 1834. The missions were offered for sale to citizens, who were unable to come up with the price, so all mission property was broken up into ranchos and given to ex-military officers who had fought in Mexico's war against Spain. In 1846, the Mission San Diego de Alcalá was given to Santiago Arguello. After the United States seized California, the Mission was used by the military from 1846 to 1862. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed an ac ...More...
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2007 photos: Equipment this year: I used the Fuji S9000 almost exclusively except for the period when it broke and I had to send it back for repairs. In August, I bought a Canon Rebel Xti, my first digital SLR (vs regular digital) which I tried as well but I wasn't that excited by it. Trips this year: Two weeks down south (including Graceland, Shiloh, VIcksburg, and New Orleans), a week at a time share in Costa Rica over my 50th birthday, a week off for a family reunion in the Wisconsin Dells (with sidetrips to Dayton, Springfield, and Madison), a week in San Diego for the Comic-Con with a side trip to Michigan for two family reunions, a drive up to Niagara Falls, a couple of weekend jaunts including the Civil War Preservation Trust Grand Review in Vicksburg, and a December journey to three state capitols (Richmond, Raleigh, and Columbia). I saw sites in 18 states and 3 other countries this year -- the first year I'd been to more than two other countries since we lived in Venezuela when I was a little toddler. Ego strokes: A photo that I took at the National Archives was used as the author photo on the book jacket for David A. Nichols' "A Matter of Justice: Eisenhower and the Beginning of the Civil Rights Revolution." I became a volunteer photographer at both Sixth and I Historic Synagogue and the Civil War Preservation Trust (later renamed "Civil War Trust").. Number of photos taken this year: 225,000.
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