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| Landmark #248 | Santa Barbara County | Visited: June 8, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque at a rest stop! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Here, on Christmas Day, 1846, natives and soldiers from the Presidio of Santa Barbara lay in ambush for Lieutenant Colonel John C. Frémont, U.S.A., and his battalion. Frémont learned of the plot and, guided by Benjamin Foxen and his son William, came instead over the San Marcos Pass, to capture Santa Barbara without bloodshed.
OTHER TIDBITS: This pass was actually named by Father Crespí, while traveling with Gaspar de Portolá! The Chumash from the village of Onomyo directed them through the pass, but the Portolá Expedition thought that was too dangerous and stuck to the beach. That put them in the path of high tides and became one of the most miserable spots on their journey north! Nonetheless, Father Crespí recorded this spot as San Luis Rey de Francia, but the soldiers, who had killed a seagull here, called it “La Gaviota” instead! As for the story of Frémont, other records indicate that the pass was flooded during the time he supposedly passed through and that the soldiers from the Presidio had actually been in Los Angeles at the time! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: N-bound State Hwy 101 rest stop (P.M. 46.9) 1.5 mi NW of Gaviota, CA 93117 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~128mi (206km) — 2.2hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |