Presidio of Monterey (1)

Presidio of Monterey (1) (1770-1866, 1902-Present) - A Spanish Presidio established in 1770 by Spanish Governor Gaspar de Portola in present day Monterey, Monterey County, California. Active U.S. military installation.

The Spanish Period (1770-1821)

The Presidio of Monterey was one of five Presidios built by the Spanish Governor of California. The other four Presidios were the Presidio of San Diego, the Presidio of San Francisco, the Presidio of Santa Barbara and the Presidio of Tubac in Arizona. The Presidio of Monterey was established 3 Jun 1770 by Fray Junípero Serra. The Presidio was associated with the nearby Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo

The Mexican Period (1822-1846)

The Mexican War of Independence ended the Spanish rule over California and changed the mission system to a more secular system with decreasing reliance on the church and the mission to provide for the native population. The Presidio of Monterey was abandoned by the Mexican government as a fortification in 1831 and allowed to deteriorate. The church and mission continued for a while but tended mainly to the spiritual needs of the community. The mission property was eventually given away.

• • (1842) Fort Gatesby 20 Oct 1842, one day only (the great mistake)

At the end of the Mexican Period the Presidio of Monterey had no military value.

The American Period (1846-Present)

The Mexican War was declared by the U.S. Congress on 11 May 1846 in response to a Mexican attack on U.S. troops in Texas. The declaration of war opened the door for American occupation of California. The American period began when American naval ships entered Monterey Bay and Captain William Mervine landed and had the American flag raise over the Customs House. Fort Mervine was built on Presidio Hill as the first U.S. fortification. The fort evolved over the years and carried several different names. In 1904, General Order No. 142 dated 30 Aug 1904, specified that the name of the reservation would return to the original name, the Presidio of Monterey.

• (1846-1847) Fort Mervine established July 1846; Fort Savannah; Fort Stockton (2), named 15 Jul 1846
• (1847-1865) Fort Halleck (3), named 1847; Post at Monterey
• (1852-1856) Monterey Ordnance Depot
• (1865-1865) Monterey Barracks, Ord Barracks Established 18 Oct 1865, deactivated 18 Oct 1865
• (1902-1904) Ord Barracks, established 9 Sep 1902, named 13 Jul 1903
• (1904-Present) Presidio of Monterey, named 30 Aug 1904

Current Status

Active military reservation, Presidio of Monterey, Monterey County, California

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 2512439

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Location: Presidio of Monterey, Monterey County, California. Maps & Images Lat: 36.6048141 Long: -121.9114208 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 122'

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 78-80
• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2,page 29

Links:

• North American Forts - Presidio of Monterey
• Wikipedia - Presidio of Monterey
• California Military Museum
• Official Site

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