An Account of the Rise and Progress of the
Pioneer Settlement on the Pacific
Coast of the United States

Author's Foreword   Introduction: The Historical Pre-Eminence of San Diego   PART ONE:   Period of Discovery and Mission Rule 1. The Spanish Explorers 2. Beginnings of the Mission Epoch 3. The Taming of the Indian 4. The Day of Mission Greatness 5. The End of Franciscan Rule   Priests of San Diego Mission   PART TWO:   When Old Town Was San Diego 1. Life on Presidio Hill Under the Spanish Flag   List of Spanish and Mexican commandants 2. Beginnings of Agriculture and Commerce   List of Ranchos in San Diego County 3. Political Life in Mexican Days 4. Early Homes, Visitors and Families 5. Pleasant Memories of Social Life 6. Prominent Spanish Families 7. The Indians' Relations With the Settlers   List of Mission Indian Lands 8. San Diego in the Mexican War 9. Public Affairs After the War 10. Accounts of Early Visitors and Settlers 11. Annals of the Close of Old San Diego 12. American Families of the Early Time 13. The Journalism of Old San Diego 14. Abortive Attempt to Establish New San Diego   PART THREE:   The Horton Period 1. The Founder of the Modern City 2. Horton's Own Story 3. Early Railroad Efforts, Including the Texas and Pacific 4. San Diego's First Boom 5. Some Aspects of Social Life   PART FOUR:   Period of "The Great Boom" 1. Coming of the Santa Fe 2. Phenomena of the The Great Boom 3. Growth of Public Utilities 4. Water Development   PART FIVE:   The Last Two Decades 1. Local Annals, After the Boom 2. Political Affairs and Municipal Campaigns 3. Later Journalism and Literature ~ [new material in second edition] 4. The Disaster to the Bennington 5. The Twentieth Century Days 6. John D. Spreckels Solves the Railroad Problem   PART SIX:   Institutions of Civic Life 1. Churches and Religious Life 2. Schools and Education 3. Records of the Bench and Bar 4. Growth of the Medical Profession 5. The Public Library 6. Story of the City Parks 7. The Chamber of Commerce 8. Banks and Banking 9. Secret, Fraternal and Other Societies 10. Account of the Fire Department   PART SEVEN:   Miscellaneous Topics 1. History of the San Diego Climate 2. San Diego Bay, Harbor and River 3. Governmental Activities 4. The Suburbs of San Diego 5. Political Roster, City of San Diego Political Roster, San Diego County Search Smythe's History of San Diego: Or you can try our Advanced Search Form Smythe's History of San Diego was scanned and proofread by volunteer Bill Parsons. Learn how you can help, too!