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California Historical Landmarks in San Mateo County

California Landmark 25
Portolá Expedition Camp: October 30
Martini Creek at Foot of Montara Mountain
Half Mile East of Cabrillo Highway
One Mile North of Montara


Portolá Expedition Camp

The Portolá Expedition of 1769 camped October 30 on a stream at the foot of Montara Mountain, which now blocked their way. Needing food badly, here the explorers found a plentiful supply of mussels. They named the camp El Rincón de las Almejas.

Citation from California Office of Historic Preservation

We have been unable to locate a commemorative plaque for the Portolá Expedition Camp at Martini Creek.

Portolá Expedition of 1769

Under orders from King Carlos III of Spain, Gaspar de Portolá i Rovira and Franciscan Father John Crespi marched north from San Diego on 14 July 1769 with sixty-three soldiers and one hundred mules.

Their destination was Monterey Bay, but they missed the fog-shrouded bay and instead became the first documented Europeans to see the San Francisco Bay.

Just seven years later, Spain founded Misión San Francisco de Asís on 29 June 1776.

The California Coastal Trail traces much of the route, and twelve California Landmarks in San Mateo County commemorate the expedition:

 
October 23   Mouth of Gazos Creek (Bean Hollow State Beach)
October 24-26   Mouth of San Gregorio Creek (San Gregorio State Beach)
October ???   Tunitas Indian Village
October 27   Mouth of Purisima Creek
October 28-29   Mouth of Pilarcitos Creek (Half Moon Bay)
October 30   Martini Creek
October 31   San Pedro Creek (Pacifica State Beach)
November 4   Sweeney Ridge
November 4   San Andreas Lake
November 5   Cañada de Andreas (Upper Crystal Springs Lake)
November 6-10   San Francisquito Creek (Menlo Park)
November 11   Cañada de Reymundo (Pulgas Water Temple)
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