In 1880, San Diego was a sleepy, dusty, western border town of about 2,500 souls. Today, it is a modern, world-class city with a greater metropolitan area population of more than three million residents (five million if the Mexican border city of Tijuana is included), a diverse economy, and tourist attractions that draw an estimated thirty-five million visitors each year. Its history was written by a fascinating group of friars, explorers, miners,...