• View of the Golden Gate Bridge, taken from the Marin Headlands, looking across the bay back towards San Francisco, seen in the distance.

    Golden Gate

    National Recreation Area California

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Centuries of Defense - Spanish (1776-1821) and Mexican Era(1822-1846)

Spain controlled the western coast of the North American continent in 1776 as the thirteen colonies declared independence from Great Britain. The mouth of the San Francisco Bay presented an entry to a new and rich world, ripe for the taking as various nations vied for control of the region.

 
Presidio of San Francisco c. 1776

Drawing of what the Presidio of San Francisco may have looked like in the early 19th century.

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, PAM Negative Collection, GOGA 35256.0645

  • 1779 - El Presidio de San Francisco established

    Northern-most outpost of the Spanish territories. El Presidio is outfitted with two cannons and soldiers are garrisoned at the site for the protection of Spanish settlers, development of the community, and control of the native population.
 
  • 1794 - Construction of Castillo de San Joaquin

    Adobe fort built by the Spanish to protect the mouth of San Francisco Bay from possible British and Russian aggression.

  • 1797 - Construction of Battery San Jose

    A Spanish defense at the current site of Fort Mason, built in response to the war with Britain.
 
SPM - 2

Fort San Jose and the Golden Gate straight during the Mexican period.

Image courtesy of the Bancroft library.

  • 1821 - Formation of the Mexican Republic

    Mexico successfully battles through the War of Independence from Spain. Soldiers at the Spanish defenses in San Francisco change their allegiance from Spain to Mexico.

  • 1835 - Mexican forces abandon Presidio

    General Mariano Vallejo transfers military headquarters to Sonoma.

  • 1847 - American forces occupy the Presidio of San Francisco
 
Presidio of San Francisco crest
 

Original panel for "Spanish (1776-1821) and Mexican Era (1822-1846)" (PDF, 39.5 MB)

 


Next: "Early United States (1850-1884)"

Home: "Centuries of Defense: Golden Gate's Military Story"

Did You Know?

Red Power painted on an Alcatraz building.

In November of 1969 American Indians being relocated and terminated by the U.S. government occupied the then vacant island of Alcatraz. Their 18 month occupation would bring an end to the federal termination policy, saving the tribes.