Old Town San Diego SHP

Old Town San Diego SHP - Hidden History Talks

Are you interested in learning about San Diego's history? Well, you are quite literally in the right place. Here at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, our staff and volunteers are dedicated to sharing the rich cultural history of California and bringing to life the stories of the many individuals who helped develop early San Diego.

One way park staff have been able to accomplish this endeavor is through our Hidden History Talks! A Hidden History talk is a free 15 minute public program, where our Interpretive staff bring to light stories that are often underrepresented within the main exhibits of the park. Hidden History Talks are presented at 3 PM on select days of the week outside of the Colorado House. These free 15 minute talks generally focus on highlighting the achievements of individuals from marginalized groups and explore various topics such as women's history, African American history, and LGBTQ+ history in San Diego. 

For the month of July, our staff are proudly sharing the remarkable story of Allen Light, whose story was literally hidden within walls of the historic adobe La Casa de Machado y Silvas. As an African-American man in the early 1800s, his Sailor Protection Papers granted him the freedom to board ships and eventually reach the West Coast. Next to the Sailor Protection Papers that historians uncovered from behind the adobe wall, sat an official letter from the Mexican government appointing him “principal arbiter of the National Armada” in charge of apprehending poachers in 1839.If you are curious to learn more of Allen Light's remarkable life, join us this July for a Hidden History Talk at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.