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| Landmark #513 | San Joaquin County | Visited: April 4, 2015 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque commemorating the ride of Juan Flaco! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: In 1846, during American conquest of California, John Brown—nicknamed Juan Flaco—rode from Los Angeles to San Francisco in four days to warn Commodore Stockton of the siege of Los Angeles, and troops were sent to secure the city. This “Paul Revere of California,” who lived in Stockton from 1851 to 1859, is buried in the former Citizen’s Cemetery near this site.
OTHER TIDBITS: Juan Flaco may have been skinny, but he was no quitter! When the forces of José Maria Flores surrounded Fort Hill in Los Angeles and demanded unconditional surrender, Juan Flaco escaped under cover of night and headed north for four straight days without rest! His horse, having been shot during the escape, eventually died, leaving Juan Flaco to continue on foot for twenty-seven miles! It took two more horses to get to Monterey, then San Jose, then finally San Francisco, to see Commodore Stockton. The Commodore ordered a ship sent south to San Pedro, but by then it was too late to save the fort. Nonetheless, the good news of this story is that Los Angeles was later recaptured, and Juan Flaco got some rest! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: 1100 E Weber St at N Union St Stockton, CA 95206 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~338mi (544km) — 5.7hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |