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San Diego - History and culture

Things to Do: History and culture

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #1 of 262 attractions in San Diego

The famed U.S. aircraft carrier is now in display in San Diego.

Attraction type: Museum; Specialty museum; Military museum; Ship
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #2 of 262 attractions in San Diego

One of the most popular urban parks in the United States, this bucolic paradise is packed with an array of attractions, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo.

Attraction type: Garden; Park; Sports complex; Urban park; Museum complex; Playground; Zoo; Theater; Golf course
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #4 of 262 attractions in San Diego

Stately monument honoring Cabrillo, discoverer of San Diego Bay, is located in Point Loma that overlooks the city and the Bay.

Attraction type: Monument; Lighthouse; National park; Other; Park
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #5 of 262 attractions in San Diego

Museum that celebrates the important role of art as a way of enriching lives by featuring American, Dutch and Flemish, French, Italian paintings and Russian Icons.

Attraction type: Art museum; Museum; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #6 of 262 attractions in San Diego

Museum's emphasis is on the history of flight, from the days of hot-air balloons to the Spirit of St. Louis to today's space shuttles.

Attraction type: Transportation museum; Specialty museum; Science museum; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #7 of 262 attractions in San Diego

A 16-block national historic district that offers visitors a variety of restaurants and shops, as well as an eyeful of Victorian architecture.

Attraction type: Neighborhood; Scenic/historic walking area; Specialty shop; Historic village; Historic walking area
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #8 of 262 attractions in San Diego

The San Diego Maritime Museum is home to the world's oldest sailing vessel that still sails - "The Star of India". This beautiful square rigger can be visited on the waterfront in downtown San...

Attraction type: Maritime museum
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #11 of 262 attractions in San Diego

Located in Balboa Park, this center is home to many art galleries and studios.

Attraction type: Art gallery; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #13 of 262 attractions in San Diego

Historic site in downtown San Diego that recreates life in the Mexican and early American periods of 1821 to 1872.

Attraction type: Historic walking area; Scenic/historic walking area; State park; Neighborhood; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #15 of 262 attractions in San Diego
Attraction type: Lighthouse
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #16 of 262 attractions in San Diego

One of the world's largest model railroad museums features a scale model railway that replicates San Diego's tracks.

Attraction type: Transportation museum
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #19 of 262 attractions in San Diego

This popular shopping mall is on multiple levels and gives shoppers a choice of more than 200 stores and boutiques.

Attraction type: Mall; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #21 of 262 attractions in San Diego

San Diego's oldest continuous neighborhood business district has continued to be a vibrant ethnic business and residential community since the 1920s.

Attraction type: Neighborhood
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TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #22 of 262 attractions in San Diego

Magnificent display of vintage automobiles and motorcycles including a 1927 Bentley, 1931 Rolls Royce Phaeton and Steve McQueen's 1953 Allard.

Attraction type: Specialty museum; Transportation museum; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #23 of 262 attractions in San Diego

With a permanent collection of over 3,600 images, and many by well-known photographers like Weston, Adams and Salgado, your eyes will be kept occupied.

Attraction type: Art museum
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #24 of 262 attractions in San Diego

Located in the Mission Valley section of San Diego, this historic mission was founded by Father Junipero Serra, who started a string of 21 missions along the California coast.

Attraction type: Mission; Other
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TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #25 of 262 attractions in San Diego

A museum featuring the works of the Continental masters, from Renaissance and Baroque art to works by Van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso, Modigliani and others.

Attraction type: Art museum; Religious site
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TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #26 of 262 attractions in San Diego

You can learn about the history of the Missions in California here and while youre at it, ogle some lovely artifacts, like Spanish furniture dating back to the Renaissance.

Attraction type: Specialty museum; History museum; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #27 of 262 attractions in San Diego

A museum dedicated to interpreting nature through research and education.

Attraction type: Natural history museum; Other
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #31 of 262 attractions in San Diego

Seaport Village is a 14 acre waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex recreating a harbor side setting of a century ago. It includes 54 one- of-a-kind shops, 13 casual dining eateries, 4...

Attraction type: Town center/square/plaza; Wharf/pier/boardwalk; Mall; Other
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History and culture

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