1769day.year
An expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá leaves its base in San Diego and sets out to find the Port of Monterey (now Monterey, California).
Gaspar de Portolá’s expedition departs San Diego in 1769 on a quest to locate the Port of Monterey in Alta California.
On July 14, 1769, Spanish governor Gaspar de Portolá launched an overland expedition from the Presidio of San Diego to find a safe harbor at Monterey Bay. Fueled by reports from earlier sea voyages, the party included soldiers, missionaries led by Father Junípero Serra, and guides familiar with indigenous trails. The arduous journey through arid landscapes and coastal valleys tested the expedition’s endurance. Their eventual discovery of Monterey played a crucial role in Spain’s colonization and the establishment of the California mission chain, shaping the region’s future.
1769
An expedition
Gaspar de Portolá
San Diego
Monterey, California