Fort Guijarros

Fort Guijarros (1797-1838) - A Spanish Colonial Fort established in 1797 at the base of Ballast Point in present day San Diego, San Diego County, California. Abandoned in 1838. Also known as El Castillo de San Joaquin.

Fort Guijarros History

A Spanish Colonial Fort established in 1797 on Ballast Point at San Diego. The post was built at the direction of Viceroy Revilla Gigedo and designed by Spanish Engineering Lt. Alberto de Cordoba. The post was built from local materials and materials shipped in from other Alta Califonia locations, including planks from Monterey and cart axels from Santa Barbara. The fortification structures included a cannon battery, a wooden magazine, a wooden casemate and a Barracks. The armament varied over the years but was generally was described as lacking and, as reported, ineffective on two occasions when it was used. The number of guns is variously described as eight to twelve cannons.

Fort Guijarros deteriorated in the 1830s under Mexican rule. The garrison was withdrawn in 1835 and the fort was abandoned in 1838. By the time the Americans arrived in 1846, the fort was in ruins and had no military value.

Current Status

Archeological remains only on Navy Base Point Loma, San Diego County, California.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 1870078

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Location: Navy Base Point Loma, San Diego, San Diego County, California. Map point is approximate. Maps & Images Lat: 32.6833478 Long: -117.2374004 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 0'

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 85
• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2,page 26

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Guijarros
• California Military Museum - Fort Guijarros
• Fort Guijarros Museum Foundation
• Wikipedia - Fort Guijarros
• CABRILLO: The Guns of San Diego Historic Resource Study, NPS, Chapter 1
• San Diego State University - Fort Guijarros Quarterly

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