Marker Logo
THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Parkfield in Monterey County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
 

The San Andreas Fault

 
 
The San Andreas Fault Markers image. Click for full size.
November 22, 2013
1. The San Andreas Fault Markers
Marker consists of two granite slabs about 12 feet apart.
Inscription.
This rift extends from El Centro on the south, 650 miles northwesternly the length of California to Point Arenas, where it continues seaward. The most publicized of California's geologic faults, it is the source of dozens of quakes annually. Of the three "monster quakes" recorded in the state (1857- Southern California, 1872- Owens Valley, 1906- San Francisco) two have been along this "transform fault". A surface manifestation of the tectonic forces present as the Pacific plate collides with the North American continental plate, these forces have moved the Pacific plate, 300 miles northward in the past 30 million years.

"The 12.4-foot separation between the two portions of this monument represents the fault movement that has occurred since the modern revival of the ancient order of E Clampus Vitus at the Cliff House, San Francisco, in 1931. At this rate of movement Los Angeles will slip past San Francisco in approximately 31.5 million years and Parkfield will then be a seaside community."

Erected by De la Guerra y Pacheco Chapter 1.5 Ancient and Honorable Order E Clampus Vitus in the 6000th year of our Ancient Order September 24, 1995
 
Erected 1995 by De la Guerra y Pacheco Chapter 1.5 Ancient and Honorable Order
Paid Advertisement
Click or scan to see
this page online
of E Clampus Vitus.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: DisastersEnvironment. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list.
 
Location. 35° 54.023′ N, 120° 25.967′ W. Marker is in Parkfield, California, in Monterey County. It is on Parkfield-Coalinga Road, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Miguel CA 93451, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Central Coast and specifically on the Coast 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 one other marker is within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tribute to a Young Man (approx. 14.4 miles away).
 
More about this marker. This marker consists of two granite slabs separated about 12 feet apart. It was placed this way to document the movement along the San Andreas Fault Line since the modern revival of E Clampus Vitus in 1931.
 
The San Andreas Fault Marker image. Click for full size.
2. The San Andreas Fault Marker
Left marker
The San Andreas Fault Marker image. Click for full size.
3. The San Andreas Fault Marker
Right marker
The San Andreas Fault Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Roy Tuason: echo7tango, April 7, 2022
4. The San Andreas Fault Marker
A view of the marker’s right side.
The San Andreas Fault Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Roy Tuason: echo7tango, April 7, 2022
5. The San Andreas Fault Marker
Taken from across the street, the marker is center-right and on the other side of the fence.
The San Andreas Fault Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Roy Tuason: echo7tango, April 7, 2022
6. The San Andreas Fault Marker
The marker is center-left, on the other side of the fence.
The San Andreas Fault Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 26, 2024
7. The San Andreas Fault Marker
An artificial representation of fault creep. The actual San Andreas Fault is about 0.5 miles to the west of the plaque.
The San Andreas Fault Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 26, 2024
8. The San Andreas Fault Marker
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on January 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2017, by Frank Gunshow Sanchez of Hollister, California. This page has been viewed 1,691 times since then and 166 times this year. Last updated on December 14, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on December 16, 2017.   4, 5, 6. submitted on April 10, 2022, by Roy Tuason, echo7tango USMC of San Francisco, California.   7, 8. submitted on December 14, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
 
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?
m=262945

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisement
Jun. 7, 2026