serra palms

Earliest known sketch from the perspective of Presidio Hill showing the presidio ruins, Mission Valley, the San Diego River emptying into San Diego Bay, Old Town and Point Loma drawn by William Birch McMurtrie, artist on board the U.S. Steamer Active on the Pacific Coast Surveying Expedition in July 1856. The sketch was probably colorized by the young James Madison Alden, a second artist on board the Active. Photo courtesy of the Bancroft Library, Berkeley.

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