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| Landmark #7 | Sonoma County | Visited: Sept. 5, 2015 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A sculpture of Joseph Revere raising the Bear Flag over the captured town of Sonoma! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: On June 14, 1846, the Bear Flag Party raised the Bear Flag on this spot and declared California free from Mexican rule. Following the raising of the American flag at Monterey July 7, 1846 by Commodore John Drake Sloat, on July 9 the Bear Flag was hauled down and the American flag raised in its place by Lieutenant Joseph W. Revere, U.S.A., who had been sent to Sonoma from San Francisco by Commander John B. Montgomery of the U.S. Sloop-of-War Portsmouth.
OTHER TIDBITS: I’m really surprised a comedy movie hasn’t been written about this rebellion, because it’s pretty ridiculous! It all started with tensions rising between American settlers in California and the existing Mexican government. Then John C. Frémont marched into Sacramento and started encouraging rebellion! Up here in unguarded Sonoma, 30 Americans, led by William Ide and Ezekiel Merritt, captured General Mariano Vallejo in his home and raised the Bear Flag over Sonoma Plaza! The irony is that General Vallejo had always supported American annexation and really preferred to just enjoy his wine and make merry. That’s exactly what happened the night of his arrest. Mr. Ide sent Mr. Merritt in to arrest the general, and the general invited him to wine and conversation. Mr. Ide later busted in on the merry scene to arrange the arrest. What a party-pooper! The flag was a crude cotton sheet with a bear, a red star (like the star of Texas), and the words “California Republic” on it! It only lasted a month before the official American army took control of the Bear Flag unit and the Mexican-American War was on! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Sonoma Plaza E Spain and 1st St E Sonoma, CA 95476 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~409mi (659km) — 6.9hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |
