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

The Butterfield Stage stopped here.

Charley Parkhurst

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 3, 2013

1. The Butterfield Stage stopped here. Marker

Inscription.
"One-eye Charley Parkhurst,” working as a driver for stage lines came to California seeking fortune in the gold fields until around 1860. Charley was small, slim and wiry. When he spoke it was in an oddly high-pitched voice. Charley died 1879 in a small cabin near Watsonville. It was discovered that Charley was a woman.

Some years earlier on November 3, 1868, Charley had cast a ballot in an election which made her the first woman to vote in the United States.

Erected 2000 by El Viceroy Marquez de Branciforte Chapter 1797, E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Butterfield Overland Mail, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is November 3, 1868.

Location. 36° 57.797′ N, 121° 58.2′ W. Marker is in Santa Cruz, California, in Santa Cruz County. It is on Portola Drive east of 35th Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3530 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz CA 95062, 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 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tower House (approx. ¾ mile away); Venetian Court (approx. 1.1 miles away); Historic Lawn Way Cottages

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(approx. 1.2 miles away); Capitola’s Natural Riches (approx. 1.2 miles away); First Capitola City Hall (approx. 1.2 miles away); Camp Capitola Superintendent’s Office (approx. 1.3 miles away); Lincoln's Windmill (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Sevy Beach House (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Cruz.

Also see . . . Charley Parkhurst. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on June 10, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional keywords. LGBT, LGBTQ

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 3, 2013

2. The Butterfield Stage stopped here. Marker

One-eyed Charlie Parkhurst - The Story image. Click for more information.

via Parkhurst Wine Cellars

3. One-eyed Charlie Parkhurst - The Story

Parkhurst Wine Cellars website entry
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,352 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on January 13, 2013. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 7, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on July 10, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.