San Juan Capistrano in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Swallows of San Juan Capistrano

Photographed by Adam Margolis, June 24, 2025

1. Swallows of San Juan Capistrano Marker

Inscription. The legend of the swallows return to San Juan Capistrano was passed down through generations of the early Indians that once inhabited this region. The earliest documentation of the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano was recorded by Father Fermin Fuster on March 19 1777. The swallows arrive at the mission of San Juan Capistrano yearly on March 19 and depart to Goya, Argentina on October 23. San Juan Capistrano is a designated bird sanctuary.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is March 19, 1777.

Location. 33° 30.044′ N, 117° 39.382′ W. Marker is in San Juan Capistrano, California, in Orange County. It is on Paseo Espada west of Rancho Viejo Road when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 27134A Paseo Espada, San Juan Capistrano CA 92675, 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,

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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: Capistrano Home Like Mission at Old Town (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Mission Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sergeant Jose Francisco Ortega (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jose Francisco Ortega Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Acjachemen people (approx. ¼ mile away); Early People of Capistrano Valley (approx. ¼ mile away); Frederica and Wilhelm Stroschein (approx. ¼ mile away); Starting in The Mid 19th Century (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Juan Capistrano.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, June 24, 2025

2. Swallows of San Juan Capistrano Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2025, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 27, 2025, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Closeup photo of the marker. • Can you help?