Historical Markers and War Memorials in Watsonville, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat for Santa Cruz County
Watsonville is in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County(257) ► ADJACENT TO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY Monterey County(246) ► San Benito County(55) ► San Mateo County(191) ► Santa Clara County(616) ►
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On Main Street (State Highway 152) south of West Beach Street, on the right when traveling south.
The year 1868 saw many important beginnings in downtown Watsonville. It was the year Watsonville was incorporated, the first nursery was established by James Waters and Jacob Blackburn, All Saints Episcopal Church was founded, the first wharf was . . . — — Map (db m55476) HM
Near Freedom Boulevard near 1395 Freedom Boulevard.
Noted whip of the Gold Rush days. Drove stage over Mt. Madonna in early days of valley. Last run San Jaun to Santa Cruz. Death in cabin near the 7 Mile House, revealed “One Eyed Charlie,” a woman. The first woman to vote in the U.S. Nov. . . . — — Map (db m62769) HM
On Corralitos Road at Browns Valley Road on Corralitos Road.
Dedicated to
the memory of
Donald Leon Rose
Born July 1888
Killed in Action
August 10, 1918.
St. Miniel, France
4th Military Police
91st Division — — Map (db m54902) HM
Near East Lake Avenue (California Route 152), on the right when traveling west.
An accomplished attorney and Watsonville mayor, James A. Hall was an adventurer at heart. In the summer of 1900, he set out to find a lost mining claim near Teller, Alaska. Before too long, he was lost himself. Without provisions and clad in summer . . . — — Map (db m62799) HM
On East Beach Street, on the right when traveling east.
This property
The Judge Lee House
Built 1894
Has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
By the United States
Department of the Interior
Second Marker:
Pajaro Valley . . . — — Map (db m62770) HM
On East Beach Street west of Lincoln Street, on the right.
World War I:
Men Die O Liberty That Thou Endurs
1918
Joseph Rebeiro • Lester Rowe • Reuben Silva • William Sullivan
World War II:
Plaque 1:
May the memory of those alumni of
Watsonville
Union High School . . . — — Map (db m62798) WM
The Castro Adobe is an outstanding example of Monterey Colonial architectural styling. The adobe functioned as a regional social center due to the importance of its location as the governing seat of the Castro family rural empire, which reached . . . — — Map (db m2354) HM
On Main Street (State Highway 152) north of West 5th Street, on the right when traveling south.
A wooden church was first built on this site in 1864 designed by James Walter. It was moved to Ford Street in 1901, and a larger English Gothic style edifice designed by William H. Weeks was constructed in 1902. It has a seating capacity of 625 . . . — — Map (db m54882) HM
On Main Street (State Highway 152) north of West Lake Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
The Apple Annual was held in downtown Watsonville from 1910 to 1913. For the first event in 1910, William H. Weeks, renowned Watsonville architect, designed a pavilion to house the show exhibits which was located on Second Street, now the site of . . . — — Map (db m54881) HM
On Main Street south of Maple Avenue, on the left when traveling south.
When the land expedition of Alta California led by Captain Gaspar de Portola passed through this valley in 1769, they reached the Pájaro River, which they named for a large straw-stuffed bird (pájaro in Spanish) with a wing span of six feet . . . — — Map (db m54863) HM
On Main Street near West Beach Street, on the right when traveling north.
Watsonville City Plaza rests on a portion of the Bolsa de Pajaro Spanish Land Grant which was owned by the Rodriguez family. This plot of ground in the center of town was given to the people of Watsonville by Sebastian Rodriguez in 1860 through his . . . — — Map (db m195877) HM
On Pinto Lake Road near Green Valley Road, on the right when traveling west.
July 14, 1769, an expedition led by Don Gaspar de Portola left San Diego to rediscover Vizcaino's "Lost Port of Monterey". The expedition reached but failed to recognize Monterey Bay, traveled north, and discovered San Francisco Bay November 4, . . . — — Map (db m86462) HM
On East Beach Street at Union Street, on the right when traveling east on East Beach Street.
Once hailed as the most elegant hotel south of San Francisco, the Mansion House in Watsonville, built in 1871, was considered past its prime in 1910. Owners Mateo and M.N. Lettunich, orchardists who also operated the Pájaro Valley’s largest fruit . . . — — Map (db m195876) HM
On Main Street (State Highway 152) south of E/W Lake Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
On the corner of Main Street and East Beach Streets, where the Lettunich Building now stands, was the Pacific Exchange Hotel built in 1856 by T.D. Alexander. By 1871 the owners decided that a larger and more modern hotel was needed and Thomas Beck . . . — — Map (db m54866) HM
Near Main Street (State Highway 152) at East Beach Street.
To fire the first salute
(October 18th, 1850)
on the arrival of the news
in California
proclaiming
its admission to the union.
Remounted for the City of Watsonville, March 22, 1922 by the Watsonville Parlor, No, 65, Native Sons of the . . . — — Map (db m54899) HM
On Main Street (California Route 152), on the right when traveling west.
After the California gold discovery in 1848, the rush was on from all parts of the nation to the mining regions of the West Coast. In early 1849, a young man named John Howard Watson arrived in California to seek his fortune. Stories have been . . . — — Map (db m21201) HM
On Main Street (State Highway 152) south of East/West Lake Street, on the right when traveling south.
Watsonville, where strawberries are sweeter, apples are crisper and produce plentiful, is a friendly place of diverse people who share a strong sense of community and optimism.
Don Sebastian Rodriquez owned the grant, Bolsa de Pajaro, on which . . . — — Map (db m54880) HM
