A modest marker and visitor center beside Hwy-78 records a little-known footnote in California’s history: the battle of San Pasqual, which occurred in December 1846 between a band of Californios (Mexican-Californians) and a force of U.S. soldiers – among them, frontier legend Kit Carson – who were advancing on San Diego. Facing defeat, the U.S. contingent withdrew from the battle but, aided by reinforcements, later took control of the region.