Portolá Expedition Camp at San Gregorio Creek

The bronze credits three days of rest and treatment. There was no treatment. Rivera y Moncada was down with scurvy, dysentery had gone through the column, and what the expedition got here was food. The Oljon brought the Spanish large shares of dark tamales ground from grass seed, which the soldiers judged very good and rich, and California's own history of this trail credits that gift with holding off the scurvy. The plaque is gone from the beach entrance now. Its base still stands.

What the plaque says

Portolá Camp Captain Gáspar de Portolá and his party of Spanish explorers, journeying overland from San Diego in a fruitless search for Monterey Bay, camped here by San Gregorio Creek for a three day rest and treatment of their sick, October 24-27, 1769. Having missed Monterey, they later discovered San Francisco Bay instead. Registered Landmark No. 26 Plaque placed by California Centennials Commission, in cooperation with the County Board of Supervisors, and the San Mateo County Historical Association. October 16, 1949.

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• First Congregational Church of Pescadero — 4.8 mi
• Portolá Expedition Camp at Purisima Creek — 5.8 mi
• Old Store at La Honda — 6.9 mi
• Pigeon Point Lighthouse — 9.7 mi