First Site of El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe

The bronze puts the first pueblo on lands around the present Civic Center. In 1977 that meant San Jose's city hall, which had stood on North First Street since 1958; the city moved its government back downtown in 2005 and left the building empty. The pueblo had made the same move first. Around 1797 its settlers abandoned this ground, which the Guadalupe River, Thámien Rúmmeytak to the Muwekma Ohlone, kept flooding, and rebuilt on higher land to the south, around the plaza now named for César Chávez.

What the plaque says

First Site of El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe Within a year after the opening of the first overland route from Mexico to Alta California, Governor Felipe de Neve authorized the establishment of the first civil settlement in the state on lands including and surrounding the present Civic Center. Lieutenant Jose Joaquin Moraga, with 14 settlers and their families, arrived in the Santa Clara Valley to found El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe on November 29, 1777. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 433 Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the San Jose Historic Landmarks Commission, November 29, 1977.

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Site of "City Gardens" Nursery of Louis Pellier — 1.0 mi
• Luis María Peralta Adobe — 1.1 mi
• St. Joseph's Catholic Church — 1.3 mi
• Site of World's First Broadcasting Station — 1.4 mi