 |
| Landmark #19 | San Mateo County | Visited: October 19, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque marking the famous duel between Senator David Broderick and Chief Justice David Terry of 1859! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: In the early morning of September 13, 1859, U.S. Senator David C. Broderick and Chief Justice David S. Terry of the California Supreme Court fought the famous duel that ended dueling in California in a ravine east of here, near the shore of Lake Merced. Senator Broderick was mortally wounded. The site is marked with a monument and granite shafts where the two men stood.
OTHER TIDBITS: So why the duel? Well, Broderick and Terry were originally friends but both on very opposite ends of the issue of slavery in California! Broderick was very much against, and Terry was very much for it. So, when Terry lost his reelection to the Supreme Court, he blamed Broderick. Both made some nasty remarks about the other, tempers flared, and a duel was scheduled! The only problem was, duels were illegal in San Francisco, so they ended up moving it south to San Mateo County! In the process, Broderick’s gun misfired, and Terry, who had been practicing, shot him squarely in the lung! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
|
| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: 1100 Lake Merced Blvd Daly City, CA 94015 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~388mi (625km) — 6.5hrs |
| When should I go? | The park is open from sunrise until just after sunset! |