On November 12, 1602, Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno docked three ships near the current Old Town. After naming the area San Diego de Alcala, he asked Carmelite Fathers to celebrated the mass for the first time in California. This historic event occurred near the site of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The Old Adobe Church was built in 1858 and the current one opened in 1917.