Cupertino in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Cupertino Morion Scuplture

Photographed by Alice Mansell, October 13, 2026

1. Cupertino Morion Scuplture Marker

Inscription.
Morion
1971
John Augsburger
San Luis Obispo, California

This sculpture is a stylized version of a morion (pronounced mohr·ee·on), which is a Spanish conquistador helmet. It has been Cupertino's symbol since the 1970s. The morion was chosen as an ode to Cupertino's past. The area now known as Cupertino was claimed by the Spanish in 1776 by explorer Juan Bautista de Anza.

Erected 1971 by City of Cupertino.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era • Exploration • Hispanic Americans.

Location. 37° 19.15′ N, 122° 1.746′ W. Marker is in Cupertino, California, in Santa Clara County. It is at the intersection of Torre Avenue and Rodrigues Avenue, on the left when traveling south on Torre Avenue. Located at Cupertino Civic Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cupertino CA 95014, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the San Francisco Bay Area,

in Silicon Valley,

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

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Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: De Anza Expedition 1775 - 1776 (approx. 0.9 miles away); Arroyo de San Joseph Cupertino (approx. 1.6 miles away); Captain Elisha Stephens (approx. 1.7 miles away); Collins-Scott Winery (approx. 2.2 miles away); Charles Clifton Spalding House (approx. 2.3 miles away); Vintage Sundial (approx. 2.6 miles away); Yugoslavian Orchardists of Sunnyvale (approx. 2.6 miles away); Pippin Clay Glazed Tiles (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cupertino.

More about this marker. The sculpture was installed on the Civic Center Plaza in 1971. In 1988, it was moved to a site presently occupied by the Cupertino Library and in 2004 after another Civic Center remodel, it was moved to its present location.

Regarding Cupertino Morion Scuplture. A “morion” is

Cupertino Morion Scuplture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alice Mansell, October 13, 2026

2. Cupertino Morion Scuplture

a 1500s Spanish Conquistador helmet. The City of Cupertino picked this steel sculpture as a cheaper alternative of $10,000 compared to the option of a $50-100,000 equestrian statue of Spanish Army Officer Juan Bautista de Anza who led an exploration party in 1776 through the area of Cupertino while he selected the sites for the San Francisco Presidio and Mission Dolores. He was accompanied by Franciscan Friar and cartographer Pedro Font. Anza, who never wore such a helmet, camped on the banks of one of the main rivers running through Cupertino, a river named by Spanish explorers between 1770-6 for St. José de Cupertino and today named Stevens Creek. The City is thus named for St. Joseph of Cupertino (1603-83), known in Italy as San Giuseppe da Copertino with a reputation for levitating. Cupertino, California is sister cites with Copertino, Italy and Toyokawa, Japan, the latter in 1987 was gifted a replica of this morion sculpture.

Cupertino Morion Sculpure image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alice Mansell, October 13, 2026

3. Cupertino Morion Sculpure

City Hall is behind the sculpture

Cupertino City Hall foyer morion painting image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alice Mansell, October 13, 2026

4. Cupertino City Hall foyer morion painting

San Jose de Cupertino inside City Hall foyer image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alice Mansell, October 13, 2026

5. San Jose de Cupertino inside City Hall foyer

Photographed by Alice Mansell, October 13, 2026

6. Cupertino Flag at Civic Center with motion logo

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2026, by Alice Mansell of Los Altos, California. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 18, 2026, by Alice Mansell of Los Altos, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.