Spanish Exploration & the Mission Era

Spanish Exploration & the Mission Era

Alta California's First Capital (1770–1822) · Monterey County

Spanish explorers arrived in Monterey Bay in 1542, but permanent settlement didn't come for over two centuries. When it did, Monterey became the beating heart of Spanish and then Mexican California — the seat of government, the port of entry, and home to the state's founding constitutional convention.

Timeline

1542

Cabrillo Sails Past

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, sailing under the Spanish flag, becomes the first European to navigate the California coast. He passes what will become Monterey Bay, noting its immense size but not landing.[2]

1602

Vizcaíno Names the Bay

Sebastián Vizcaíno anchors in the bay on December 16 and names it Puerto de Monterey after the Viceroy of New Spain, the Count of Monterey. He writes glowing reports of its harbor quality — reports that would be considered exaggerated by later visitors.[5]

1770

Serra & Portolá Found Monterey

Father Junípero Serra and Governor Gaspar de Portolá establish a presidio and Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Monterey, making Monterey the capital of Alta California. Serra would later relocate the mission to Carmel to be closer to fresh water and away from the soldiers.[1],[3],[4]

1777

Capital of Alta California

Monterey is formally designated the capital of Spanish Alta California. The Custom House, built in stages through the 1820s, becomes the port of entry for all goods entering California — today it is the oldest governmental building in California.[1]

1818

Bouchard Raids Monterey

Argentine privateer Hipólito Bouchard attacks and burns much of Monterey with two warships, seeking to weaken Spanish colonial power. The raid lasts four days and is the only foreign attack on California soil during the Spanish era. Residents flee to the countryside and return to find the town largely destroyed.[4]

Then & Now

Archive photos paired with the same place today.

Then, c. 1890: The Monterey Custom House — built under three flags (Spanish, Mexican, American) and California's oldest government building.Then · c. 1890

The Monterey Custom House — built under three flags (Spanish, Mexican, American) and California's oldest government building.

Photo: C. C. Pierce (CHS-322) / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Now, Today: The same adobe Custom House today, preserved as the centerpiece of Monterey State Historic Park.Now · Today

The same adobe Custom House today, preserved as the centerpiece of Monterey State Historic Park.

Photo: MontereyBay.app

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Sources

Citations behind the dates, names, and numbers on this page.

  1. 1
    California State Parks — Monterey State Historic Park

    Custom House, Presidio, and Royal Presidio Chapel founding dates.

  2. 2
    National Park Service — Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo NM (history)

    Cabrillo’s 1542 California coastal voyage.

  3. 3
    National Park Service — Juan Bautista de Anza NHT

    Spanish colonization of Alta California, Portolá/Serra expedition context.

  4. 4
    Wikipedia — Presidio of Monterey (historical)

    1770 founding by Portolá and Serra; 1818 Bouchard raid.

  5. 5
    Wikipedia — Sebastián Vizcaíno

    1602 naming of Monterey Bay for the Conde de Monterrey.

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