Menlo Park in San Mateo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Portola Journey's End

November 6-10, 1769

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 20, 2021

1. Portola Journey's End Marker

Inscription. Near "El Palo Alto", the tall tree, the Portola Expedition of 63 men and 200 horses and mules camped. They had traveled from San Diego in search of Monterey but discovered instead the Bay of San Francisco. Finding the bay too large to go around and deciding that Monterey had been by-passed, they ended the search and returned to San Diego.

Erected 1968 by State Department of Parks and Recreation, and Portola Expedition Bicentennial Foundation. (Marker Number 2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Portolá Expedition series lists.

Location. 37° 26.872′ N, 122° 10.257′ W. Marker is in Menlo Park, California, in San Mateo County. It is at the intersection of Alma Street and East Creek Drive on Alma Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Menlo Park CA 94025, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

in Silicon Valley,

and on the Coast Ranges.

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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 walking distance of this marker: Early People of the Creek (within shouting distance of this marker); El Palo Alto (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); San Francisquito Creek Watershed (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named San Francisquito Creek Watershed (about 400 feet away); History of Tower Well (approx. ¼ mile away); Hostess House (approx. half a mile away); The Face Book (approx. half a mile away); 401 Florence (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Menlo Park.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Hostess House War and Veterans Memorial (was approx. half a mile away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. The tree is 300 feet from the marker, in El Palo Alto Park.

Regarding Portola Journey's End. This

Photographed by I.G.V.Atajar, November 13, 2009

2. Portola Journey's End Marker

site was designated California Historical Landmark No.2 on June 1, 1932. This was the second site honored by the State Office of Historic Preservation.

Also see . . . More information on "El Palo Alto". A Wikipedia article reporting everything you'd ever want to know about this tree. (Submitted on July 27, 2010, by Anthony Applewhite of Atherton, California.)

Photographed by I.G.V.Atajar, November 13, 2009

3. Portola Journey's End Marker

A Second Marker At This Site image. Click for full size.

May 7, 1977

4. A Second Marker At This Site

Under this giant redwood, the Palo Alto, November 6–11, 1769, camped Portola and his band on the expedition that discovered San Francisco Bay. This was the assembling point for their reconnoitering parties. Here in 1774 Padre Palou erected a cross to mark the site of a proposed mission (which later was built at Santa Clara). The celebrated Pedro Font topographical map of 1776 contained the drawing of the original double trunked tree making the Palo Alto the first official living California landmark.

"El Palo Alto" image. Click for full size.

May 7, 1977

5. "El Palo Alto"

Photographed by Hyde's Book Store, Palo Alto

6. "El Palo Alto"

This vintage postcard view of "El Palo Alto" is not dated, however the required postage is 1 cent.

"El Palo Alto" in 2021 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 20, 2021

7. "El Palo Alto" in 2021

Photographed by Craig Baker, September 20, 2021

8. "El Palo Alto"

Credits. This page was last revised on September 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2009, by I.G.V.Atajar of San Jose, California. This page has been viewed 4,096 times since then and 182 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 20, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3. submitted on December 1, 2009, by I.G.V.Atajar of San Jose, California. 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 3, 2009. 7, 8. submitted on September 20, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.