Murphy's Ranch

The conquest of California began with a horse theft. On 10 June 1846 a party of American settlers under Ezekiel Merritt rode into the corral on the north bank of the Cosumnes and took the mounts Lieutenant Francisco Arce was moving north for the Mexican army. Four days later the same men raised a flag at Sonoma and declared a republic. The bronze says this is where the conquest started, and it does not soften what it started with.

What the plaque says

Murphy's Corral This is the site of the beginning of the conquest of California by the United States. On June 10, 1846, American settlers led by Ezekial Merritt overpowered soldiers under Lt. Francisco Arce and took their Mexican army horses from the corral of the Murphy Ranch on the north bank of the Cosumnes River. The "Bear Flag" action in Sonoma followed on June 14, 1846. California Registered Historical Landmark O. 680 Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with the California History Foundation of the College of the Pacific and the Stockton Corral of Westerners, October 17, 1959

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Sacramento — 16 mi
  The Gold Rush river port that became the state capital, and jacked itself ten feet into the air to stop drowning.

More markers nearby

• Site of First County Free Library Branch in California — 2.5 mi
• Grave of Elitha Cumi Donner Wilder — 2.9 mi
• Grave of Alexander Hamilton Willard — 5.3 mi
• Site of Grist Mill Built by Jared Dixon Sheldon — 12 mi