Dana Point in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Richard Henry Dana

Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 3, 2010

1. Richard Henry Dana Marker

Inscription. This plaque commemorates the 150th anniversary of the visit to this anchoring cove by author Richard Henry Dana. He arrived in 1835 aboard the brig "Pilgrim" which traded New England goods to Mission San Juan Capistrano and area ranchos for cow hides tossed from these cliffs.
1835 - 1985.

Erected 1986 by District XII California Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.

Location. 33° 27.709′ N, 117° 42.373′ W. Marker is in Dana Point, California, in Orange County. It can be reached from Dana Point Harbor Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dana Point CA 92629, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Peninsular 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,

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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: Dana Point (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dana Point Inn (approx. 0.3 miles away); Dana Point Elevator (approx. 0.3 miles away); Harbor/Pilgrim (approx. 0.4 miles away); Richard Henry Dana Jr. (approx. 0.4 miles away); The History Beneath Your Feet: Concrete Curb and Sidewalk Stamps (approx. half a mile away); Auditorium (approx. half a mile away); Telephone Office (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dana Point.

Also see . . . Two Years Before the Mast (Wikipedia). Description of Richard Henry Dana’s memoir. Excerpt:

The headland bluffs near Mission San Juan Capistrano presented an obstacle to taking the cow hides to the beach for subsequent loading onto the ship. So Dana, along with others of the Pilgrim's and later Alert's crews, tosses the hides from the bluffs, which he compared to flying a kite without a string. Some hides get stuck part
Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 3, 2010

2. Richard Henry Dana Marker
way down the cliff and Dana is lowered with ropes to retrieve them. The headlands, along with the adjacent present day city, took on Dana's name as Dana Point.

(Submitted on February 13, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2025, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 210 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on February 28, 2025, by Carolyn Sanders of Plano, Texas. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 13, 2025, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.