Near Goleta in Santa Barbara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Gaviota Pass

Fremont-Foxen Memorial

Photographed by Michael Kindig, April 18, 2003

1. Gaviota Pass Marker

Inscription. Here on Christmas Day, 1846 natives and soldiers from the Presidio of Santa Barbara lay in ambush for Lt. Col. John C. Fremont, U.S.A. and his battalion. Advised of the plot, Fremont was guided over the San Marcos Pass by Benjamin Foxen and his son William, and captured Santa Barbara without bloodshed.

Erected 1937 by Santa Barbara Parlor No. 116 Native Sons of the Golden West, and Lions Club of Santa Maria. (Marker Number 248.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Military. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.

Location. 34° 29.12′ N, 120° 13.712′ W. Marker is near Goleta, California, in Santa Barbara County. It is on State Highway 101, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in the northbound rest stop at Gaviota State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Goleta CA 93117, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Central Coast,

specifically on the Coast Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is 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 finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Past and Future Las Cruces Adobe (approx. 1.6 miles away); Las Cruces • The Crosses (approx. 1.6 miles away); Arroyo Hondo Fish Passage & Upstream Habitat Restoration

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(approx. 5.1 miles away); Rigs: Drilling the Deep (approx. 5.3 miles away); Bicycling (approx. 5.3 miles away); Mini-Mammoths (approx. 5.3 miles away); Bouchard: California’s Only Pirate (approx. 5.3 miles away); Sea Otter Hunting (approx. 5.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Goleta.

Regarding Gaviota Pass. In 1937 this was designated California Historical Landmark No. 248 - Gaviota Pass. “Here, on Christmas Day, 1846, natives and soldiers from the Presidio of Santa Barbara lay in ambush for Lieutenant Colonel John C. Frémont, U.S.A., and his battalion. Frémont learned of the plot and, guided by Benjamin Foxen and his son William, came instead over the San Marcos Pass, to capture Santa Barbara without bloodshed.”

Also see . . . The Gaviota Pass. A youtube video of a drive through Gaviota Pass on US 101. Hold on to your seat! (Submitted on December 18, 2011.)

Additional commentary.
1. Marker may contain events that never occurred.
A Lompoc Record article, Some call story behind historical marker a myth relates how a historian and historical books note that the events described on the marker may have never happened.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, April 18, 2003

2. Gaviota Pass Marker
— Submitted July 16, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

Gaviota Pass image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, April 18, 2003

3. Gaviota Pass

Photographed by Michael Kindig, April 18, 2003

4. Gaviota Pass

Gaviota Rest Area image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, April 18, 2003

5. Gaviota Rest Area

Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2011. This page has been viewed 1,749 times since then and 86 times this year. Last updated on November 12, 2020, by James King of San Miguel, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 16, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.