Portsmouth Plaza

The Mexican flag was already in a trunk. More than a week before the Portsmouth's men marched into this plaza on 9 July 1846, the customs receptor, Rafael Pinto, left to join Castro, first handing William Leidesdorff, the American vice-consul, a trunk holding the custom-house flag and his office papers as private property. Neither Leidesdorff nor Montgomery looked inside. The trunk went back to Pinto, who gave the flag to the Society of California Pioneers in 1870. The 1950 state tablet lists eleven later events here; the 1924 DAR bronze keeps to the flag.

What the plaque says

On this spot the American flag was first raised in San Francisco by Commander John B. Montgomery of the U.S.S. Portsmouth July 9 1846 Marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution San Francisco Chapters 1924 Portsmouth Plaza An Historic Shrine Named for U.S.S. Portsmouth commanded by Capt. John B. Montgomery, after whom Montgomery Street was named. It was here on the plaza that Capt. Montgomery first raised the American flag near the Mexican adobe custom house on July 9, 1846. This plaza was the center of many early day activities among which were the following:— First public school building erected 1847, S. W. corner of plaza, where religious services and many public meetings were held. Dramatic and authoritative announcement of gold discovery made by Sam Brannan on May 11, 1848, who displayed glittering samples to crowds on plaza. Election of delegates to Monterey Constitutional Convention urged at mass meeting June 12, 1849. Served as place of refuge for citizens following conflagrations of 1849, 1850, 1851 and 1906. On July 16, 1849, crowd assembled to organize against depredations of lawless body called "The Hounds". Memorial services held August 29, 1850, following death of President Zachary Taylor. First Admission Day celebration held October 29, 1850, following news brought by steamship Oregon that California, on September 9, had become 31st state. Indignation meeting organized June 1, 1852, to protest against purchase by City Council of Jenny Lind Theater as City Hall. Commemorative services held for Henry Clay, August 10, 1852. Colonel E. D. Baker, September 18, 1859, delivered oration over body U. S. Senator David C. Broderick, killed in duel with Chief Justice David S. Terry. Robert Louis Stevenson spent many hours here during his visit to the city in 1879-1880. State Registered Landmark No. 119 Tablet placed by California Centennials Commission. Dedicated September 6, 1950

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Muir Beach Overlook — 11 mi
  A cliff edge on Highway 1, and the concrete dugouts where two-man crews watched the sea after Pearl Harbor.
• Muir Woods National Monument — 11 mi
  A redwood canyon saved from a reservoir by a gift, and named for a man who had been there once.
• Earthquake Trail — 27 mi
  A short loop along the San Andreas, where a broken fence shows how far Point Reyes moved in under a minute in 1906.
• Kule Loklo — 28 mi
  A Coast Miwok village built in the 1970s to honour a people its builders were told had died out. They had not.

More markers nearby

• Eastern Terminus of Clay Street Hill Railroad — steps away
• First Public School — steps away
• Site of the Jenny Lind Theatre and San Francisco City Hall — steps away
• Office of the California Star Newspaper — steps away