The park encompasses about 40 acres (16 ha) and offers views of the city, the San Diego River valley, and the Pacific Ocean.

[3] In 1907, George Marston, a wealthy department store owner and civic leader, bought Presidio Hill with the aim of preserving the historic site.

[2][4] The spot in the park where Junípero Serra planted a palm tree when he first arrived in 1769 was declared a California Historical Landmark.

The Junípero Serra Museum is operated by the San Diego Historical Society and features displays about the city's founding.

[6] The Serra Museum was the original home of the San Diego Historical Society, founded in 1929 by philanthropist George Marston.