Near San Gregorio in San Mateo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Portola Camp

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 20, 2004

1. Portola Camp Marker in 2004

Inscription.
Captain Gaspar de Portola and his party of Spanish explorers, journeying overland from San Diego in a fruitless search for Monterey Bay, camped here by San Gregorio Creek for a three day rest and treatment of their sick, October 24-27, 1769. Having missed Monterey, they later discovered San Francisco Bay instead.

Erected 1949 by California Centennials Commission; County Board of Supervisors; and San Mateo County Historical Association. (Marker Number 26.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Science & Medicine • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Portolá Expedition series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1904.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 37° 19.366′ N, 122° 24.06′ W. Marker was near San Gregorio, California, in San Mateo County. It was on Cabrillo Highway (State Highway 1). Marker base is located at the entrance to San Gregorio State Beach, 10.8 miles south of Half Moon Bay and .1 mile south of the Highway 84 Intersection. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: San Gregorio CA 94074, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It was also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it was in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within 8 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: San Gregorio House (approx. 0.8 miles away); First Congregational Church of Pescadero (approx. 4.8 miles away); Duarte's Tavern (approx. 5 miles away); Methodist Episcopal Church of Pescadero (approx. 5.1 miles away); a different marker also named Methodist Episcopal Church of Pescadero (approx. 5.1 miles away); Apple Jack's Inn (approx. 7 miles away); In Memoriam The Aircraft "Resolution" (approx. 7.3 miles away); Methusela (approx. 7.9 miles away).

More about this marker. This is California Historical Landmark No. 26.

Also see . . . California Landmarks Foundation. The foundation is raising money to replace missing California Historical Landmark plaques. (Submitted on December 2, 2024.)

Portola Camp Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, October 20, 2004

2. Portola Camp Marker

Portola Camp Marker is missing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 24, 2008

3. Portola Camp Marker is missing

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 24, 2008

4. Portola Camp Marker is missing

Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,776 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 15, 2022, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. 3, 4. submitted on September 3, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.