In San Diego's Old Town, where Padre Junipero Serra founded the mother mission of California in 1769, is a museum commemorating the much more recent history of the Mormon Battalion. The Mormon what? I don't recall this piece of American history being taught in my high school history classes, but now I am fully informed and ready to share, as we took the whole interactive tour and Samuel even suited up for the occasion (see above).
The Mormon Battalion was a group of nearly 500 Mormon men and some family members who trekked from Council Bluffs, Iowa to San Diego, California in 1846, a 2,100 mile trip. Why? The U.S. government had need of soldiers to fight the Mexicans. The government paid the battalion's passage and gave them each a $42 uniform allowance (worth $1400 today), a gun, a canteen, a haversack, and a tiny back pack.
They faced illness and dehyrdation, but spoiler alert, the Mormon Battalion never fought a battle, unless you include defending themselves against rampaging wild bulls near Tombstone, AZ. Once they got to San Diego they made friends not war with the Mexicans there, dancing and eating hot peppers with them.
The museum is a class act that would make Walt Disney proud. Unlike Disneyland, there is no fee for the tour, and you are led through by young fresh-faced Mormons. Our guides were two Sisters on their missions, wearing replicas of 1840s dresses. Jesus is frequently mentioned and you are offered free copies of the Book of Mormon and the Bible, should you be interested. However, the proselytizing is low key. After the tour, you can pan for gold and make bricks, or (highly recommended), go up the tower and take a view of Old Town.
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After our interactive history lesson, we took a quick stroll of Old Town, always one of my favorite places in San Diego. The open air market contains a gourd artists alley, with hundreds of painted and carved gourds from Mexico. Be sure and check that out.
