The presidio was abandoned by 1835 and fell to ruins, because settlers preferred to live in the more accessible town—present-day Old Town San Diego State Historic Park—which developed at the foot of Presidio Hill. Preservation In 1907 George Marston, a wealthy department store owner, bought Presidio Hill with an interest to preserve the site. Unable to attract public funding, Marston built a private park in 1925 with the help of architect John Nolen. He also funded the Junípero Serra Museum, designed by William Templeton Johnson and built in 1928–1929 in Spanish Revival style architecture, to house and showcase the collection of the San Diego Historical Society (now the San Diego History Center). Serra Museum is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the Presidio, but in fact nothing remains of the original Presidio. Marston donated the park and museum to the city in 1929. Presidio Park is still owned by the city of San Diego; the Serra Museum is managed by the San Diego History Center. No historical structures remain in Presidio Park today. The Presidio site is occasionally used for archaeological excavations. There are additional photographs available. See also Commandants of the Presidio of San Diego Military Districts in Spanish California References Further reading "Early History of the San Diego Presidial District, 1542-1782." UC Berkeley thesis, 1930, by Lucien C. Atherton. External links "Use of Presidio Hill", Journal of San Diego History 45:3 (Summer 1999) by Jennifer Luksic and Nik Kendziorski El Presidio Real de San Diego "Life on Presidio Hill Under the Spanish Flag", History of San Diego (1907-08) by William E. Smythe Presidio Park - City of San Diego website Serra Museum - San Diego History Center website Early History of the California Coast, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary San Diego 1769 in Alta California Parks in San Diego History of San Diego History of San Diego County, California Forts on the National Register of Historic Places in California National Register of Historic Places in San Diego National Historic Landmarks in California 1769 establishments in Alta California Spanish Colonial architecture in California