Background
San Diego’s harbor was and still is an attractive location for shipping as ships from all over the world move cargo from one
port to the next. In the late 19th century, the cargo generally included coal, lumber, ore, grains, or general merchandise.
San Diego received mariners from Australia, England, Canada, China, Chile, and all areas of the United States. The vast majority
of ships were flagged under Britain or the U.S., but others were flags included Japan, Germany, Italy, and Norway.