Old San Diego, California by RD Riccoboni. This is Old City Court House and The Colorado House. Home to the Wells Fargo Company. The Mormon Battalion arrived in San Diego in January of 1847 to support the American military garrison in the pueblo during the Mexican War. When not engaged in military duties, they assisted the community by building the first fired-brick structure in Old Town. Originally designated as a townhall and schoolrooom, once the state legislature incorporated San Diego as the first city in California, it became the office for Mayor, City Clerk, Board of Supervisors. Old Town San Diego is considered the "birthplace" of California. San Diego is the site of the first permanent Spanish settlement in California. It was here in 1769, that Father Junipero Serra came to establish the very first mission in a chain of 21 missions that were to be the cornerstone of California’s colonization. Father Serra’s mission and Presidio were built on a hillside overlooking what is currently known as Old Town San Diego. At the base of the hill in 1820’s, a small Mexican community of adobe buildings was formed and by 1835 had attained the status of El Pueblo de San Diego. In 1846, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant and a Marine Lieutenant, raised the American flag in the Old Town San Diego Plaza. Souvenir art of California. Randy RD Riccoboni is an insightful, American born artist (California, 1960) influenced by a plethora of sights, sounds, colors, textures and emotion. This self-taught artist acquired his drive and inspiration from encouragement given him by family, friends and public school teachers. Riccoboni’s profound love for art and architecture are evidenced in his paintings, landscape and portrait masterpieces. Visit the artist's studio #18 in Spanish Village Art Center at Balboa Park in San Diego California.