Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Morro Rock

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 5, 2008

1. Morro Rock Marker

Inscription. An important mariner's landfall for over 300 years, chronicled in the diaries of Portola, Fr. Crespi and Costanso in 1769 when they camped near this area on their trek to find Monterey. Sometimes called the "Gibraltar of the Pacific". It is the last in the famous chain of nine peaks which start in the city of San Luis Obispo.

California Registered Historical Landmark No. 821

Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce and the San Luis Obispo County Historical Society.
May 25, 1968

Erected 1968 by California State Department of Parks and Recreation. (Marker Number 821.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Landmarks • Natural Features. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Portolá Expedition series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is May 25, 1792.

Location. 35° 22.232′ N, 120° 51.899′ W. Marker is in Morro Bay, California, in San Luis Obispo County. Marker is on Coleman Drive, 0.3 miles west of Embarcadero, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Morro Bay CA 93442, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The First Landing of Filipinos in the Continental United States (approx. ¼ mile away); Cayucos by the Sea (approx. 5.9 miles away); Home of Capt. James Cass (approx. 6 miles away); Mustang Memorial Plaza (approx. 12.4 miles away); The Old Powerhouse (approx. 12.4 miles away); Chong's Candy Store (approx. 12.9 miles away); Site of Ah Louis Store (approx. 12.9 miles away); “Love” and “Double Joy” (approx. 12.9 miles away).

More about this marker. The marker is mounted on a stone monument in the parking lot at the foot of Morro Rock, immediately to the left as one enters the lot. The general location is eary to find as the Rock is visible for miles around.

Regarding Morro Rock.

• In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the Portugese explorer, sighted and named Morro Rock.
• In 1769, Gaspar de Portola, Father Juan Crespi, and some sixty other men and one hundred mules marched north on an overland expedition from San Diego, to find Monterey Bay, camping at one point near Morro Rock.
• The Rock was quarried periodically from 1889 to 1963. In 1966 the State of California obtained title to it, and in 1968 was declared a state landmark, and Morro Rock is now a nature preserve.

Also see . . .

Morro Rock Marker and Monument (with Morro Rock in the background) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 5, 2008

2. Morro Rock Marker and Monument (with Morro Rock in the background)

Morro Rock. Morro Rock was an island up to the 1930s. This site provides discussion and numerous historical photographs of how the area surrounding Morro Rock has changed over time. (Submitted on November 25, 2009.)

Morro Rock (View from the North) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 5, 2008

3. Morro Rock (View from the North)

Morro Rock is estimated to be about 23 million years old, and is the plug remnant of an extinct volcano. Its roughly 580 foot tall peak was obscured by marine coastal fog on what was otherwise a warm and sunny day not very far from where this photo was taken.

Morro Rock - Morro Bay, Calif. image. Click for full size.

Distributed by Bob Ball, Visalia, California, Color by Mike Roberts, Berkeley, Calif.

4. Morro Rock - Morro Bay, Calif.

Description on Postcard:
Discovered by Cabrillo in 1542, this sheer piece of granite rises 576 feet to guard the broad white beaches and sheltered waters of picturesque Morro Bay.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2009, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,523 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 24, 2009, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2, 3. submitted on November 25, 2009, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 4. submitted on December 3, 2009. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.