Mormon Battalion Historic Site — Attraction in San Diego

I didn’t know what to expect. I was stuck in San Diego with my mother after watching my second child graduate from Boot Camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

We had several hours to kill, just waiting for planes. I saw the sign underneath a rather impressive collection of architecture and history expertly arranged an built into the hills of San Diego.

I knew that the tour was going to be a combination of history and religious evangelism. These wonderfully nice people still surprised me.

We arrived halfway through the Spanish tour whereupon a blue eyed latter-day Saints sister recited, by script, in perfect Spanish, a preview of the tour we were about to undertake.

It’s not really a tour. It is an interactive, three part,(audience, sister tour guides, and interactive historical characters in wall paintings straight out of Harry Potter) historical/spiritual message.

The set dressings are surprisingly realistic given the setting. We know that these are props however, the props are REALLY good! Like “actual kit or better” good. ( I’m a little bit of a history buff and I have some long years in set design) The explanations and actual physical props from the US military in that time are spot on accurate from an equipment point of view. The history side is better than expected. However, this is still a mission. So expect a spiritual side.

At this point I have to tell you, it’s actually an astoundingly positive thing. I wasn’t expecting that. At the beginning of this they bring up a focusing (at least for me)theme

Throughout tribulation, “We chose to be happy” outlined the Latter Day Saints contributions to both California and to the United States of America.

It was nice to see people who were proud of their faith outlining exactly how that same faith helped frame the west.

Thank you for an entertaining and informational afternoon.

PS: There are many who look at this place as a straight on religious conversion center. You might be right.

But, at least these people speak from the heart as to what...

Located slightly NE of Old Town San Diego. There is street parking in front of the building and a parking lot (specifically for the building) behind the building. You must move your car from this lot after you complete the tour. This beautiful building was built in mid 1800s, California style. This building has been erected to help educate the public on the enlistment of the Mormon (The Church of Latter-Day Saints) Battalion, by the U.S. Military, in 1846. There are entertaining, guided tours and interactive exhibits on mining for gold, doing laundry "the old fashioned way," and brick making. There is also an outside outlook point on the top of the building. Guides are friendly and knowledgeable. I feel that it's important to include that all are welcome, regardless of faith, and the tour does not attempt to recruit church members. It does explain the Mormon faith (in basic ways) through the stories of historical figures. I felt welcome and comfortable the entire time and I throughly enjoyed the tour. Although, I do not want to give too much away, I want to stress that the tour is amazing! Groups are guided through several rooms that are decorated in period styles and are designed to make visitors feel that they are part of the story. The guides are dressed in historically accurate attire and interact with films, throughout the tour. In my opinion, the tour is best for ages 8 and up. You can access the mining, laundry, and brick exhibit and the lookout area from the front of the building, on the right hand side. Before you get to the statue, there is a corridor where...

Probably the BEST interactive presentation I have ever experienced! Seriously, why are more museums not like this? I don't want to say too much about the presentation, because it was a complete surprise to me and that was part of the magic. But it was so good and immersive. You experience history. I have a 2-year-old and 3-year-old who were thoroughly engaged the whole time. Older kids will like it even better. It felt like a half hour, but I think it was actually about 45 minutes.

Afterwards, you can take a historic-looking photo (They email it to you for free), pan for gold (My kids loved this! And they even have waterproof aprons... Which I first thought was a bit unnecessary, but then I remembered what my two-year-old is like 😄), see how bricks are made, use a water pump with an old-fashioned wash tub, take pictures in a covered wagon, etc.

Plan at least an hour. We stayed almost an hour and a half. Expected to be in and out and a half hour, but it was so enjoyable.

You don't need a stroller for toddlers... It's a small area and mostly sitting unless you don't want to be. And if you're nursing, there's a sort of mother's room in the back of the woman's bathroom (my one-month-old's favorite part of the museum).

The museum is free. There is an attached parking lot for the museum that is also free.

So definitely go and bring the...