1846 to 1854

American Transition to Early Statehood


Beginning with the Bear Flag revolt, the fight was on to capture Mexican-ruled California for the United States.

Anza-Borrego Desert SP (Gen Stephen Watts Kearny's beleaguered Army of the West marched across the Carrizo Corridor; among the party was Lt. William H. Emory--1846; The Mormon Battalion traversed the area in 1847-49; Amiel Weeks Whipple--1849; Lt. Cave Couts, Jr.--1849)

Bale Grist Mill SHP (grist mill built in 1846 by Edward Bale; "Bears" who were involved in the Bear Flag Revolt at Sonoma gathered here beforehand)

Benicia Capitol SHP (land deeded to Dr. Robert Semple and Thomas O. Larkin after Mariano Vallejo released from imprisonment at Sutter's Fort; Semple laid out town in 1847; he also served as president of the 1849 Constitutional Convention; March 27, 1850 Benicia incorporated; Fischer-Hanlon House; Benicia Capitol constructed 1852--California Capitol February 4, 1853-February 25, 1854)

Bidwell Mansion SHP (1846--John Bidwell wrote a declaration of independence for the Bear Flag Republic)

Border Field SP (initial United States-Mexican international boundary in 1850)

California State Capitol Museum (1854, the fifth session of the California State Legislature permanently locates the state capitol at Sacramento)

Donner Memorial SP (1844 Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party opens the first practicable wagon route to California; Emigrant Trail; Donner Party tragedy 1846-47)

El Presidio de Santa Barbara SHP (August 4, 1846 Commodore Robert F. Stockton took possession of the Presidio of Santa Barbara; September 27, 1846 Gumesindo Flores assumed command of the garrison; December 27, 1846 John C. Frémont and troops under his command occupied town)

Folsom Lake SRA (July 14, 1849 Winfield Scott Sherwood from Mormon Island elected delegate to Constitutional Convention)

Fremont Peak SP (John C. Frémont established fort in vicinity of peak in March, 1846)

Henry Cowell Redwoods SP (John C. Frémont encampment)

John Marsh Home (Marsh ranch became a destination for emigrants--the Bartelson-Bidwell Party arrive November 4, 1841)

La Purisima Mission SHP (José Antonio Carrillo was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Monterey)

Los Encinos SHP (adobe house built in 1849 by Vicente de la Osa)

Marshall Gold Discovery SHP (Sutter's sawmill under construction, 1847-1848; William E. Shannon represented Coloma area at Constitutional Convention in Monterey)

Monterey SHP (July 7, 1846--Commodore John Sloat and troops under his command occupied Monterey, U.S. flag raised over the Custom House; Monterey military capital 1846-1850; August 15, 1846 The Californian, first edition of the first newspaper published in California; Thomas O. Larkin, Jacinto Rodriguez, H.W. Halleck, Rodman M. Price delegates to Constitutional Convention held in Monterey in September 1-October 13, 1849; California's First Theater; Larkin House; Pacific House; Sherman-Halleck Adobe)

Old Sacramento SHP (town meetings held at the City Hotel to support a Constitution; Lansford W. Hastings, M.M. Carver, Winfield S. Sherwood delegates to Constitutional Convention)

Old Town San Diego SHP (1846--Capt. Samuel F. du Pont, USN and USS Cyane take San Diego; the U.S. flag was raised over the Plaza July 29, 1846; Commodore Robert F. Stockton and the U.S. fleet secured San Diego; town occupied by American troops; December 12--Gen Stephen W. Kearny's troops and Stockton's relief party reach San Diego; January 29, 1847--340 volunteers of the Mormon Battalion arrived; Miguel de Pedrorena delegate to Constitutional Convention; July 6, 1849 first meeting of US Boundary Commission at San Diego; San Diego Courthouse built)

Olompali SHP (Battle of Olompali, June 24, 1846--engagement of the Bear Flag Revolt between Americans attempting to seize horses from a corral of Californios, who in turn were planning to recapture Sonoma)

Palomar Mountain SP (became part of John Warner's Ranch in 1846)

Petaluma Adobe SHP (headquarters of Mariano Vallejo's enormous Rancho de Petaluma ranching operations, rancho provided the necessary food, clothing and shelter for Vallejo's military force)

Pio Pico SHP (El Ranchito a part of 9,000 acre ranch, home to the last governor of Mexican California, Pio Pico)

Richardson Grove SP (Josiah Gregg Party opens the Sonoma Trail in 1848)

Samuel P. Taylor SP (Barnabe Peak named after John C. Frémont's mule, who lived out his days as the Taylor family pet)

San Juan Bautista SHP (1846 José Castro organized forces to expel John C. Frémont forces; July 17, 1846 U.S. flag raised over pueblo of San Juan Bautista; November 16, 1846 American troops under Capt. Charles Burroughs of Fremont's California Battalion and Californios under Com. Manual Castro engage in battle at Natividad near San Juan Bautista)

San Pasqual Battlefield SHP (Battle of San Pasqual--December 6, 1846 between American forces under the command of Gen. Stephen Watts Kearny and Californios under Capt. Andres Pico; 21 Americans killed in the battle)

Sonoma SHP (June 14, 1846--Ezekial Merritt, William B. Ide, Robert Semple, and others seized the Sonoma garrison, captured and imprisoned Gen. Mariano Vallejo, Capt. Salvador Vallejo, Lieut.-Col. Victor Prudon, and Jacob Leese, and raised the California Republic's Bear Flag; 1846--a 4th of July celebration was held to honor the republics of California and the United States; July 5, 1846 Capt. John C. Fremont assumed command over the insurgent band at Sonoma and with others form the "California Battalion"; July 9, 1846, Lt. Joseph Warren Revere hoisted the U.S. flag in front of the barracks and took official possession; Blue Wing Inn remodeled extensively in 1849; Mariano Vallejo represented Sonoma at California Constitutional Convention in 1849; Lachryma Montis constructed by Vallejo in 1850)

Sutter's Fort SHP (John Sutter supports the American conquest of California in 1846; 1846--Mariano and Salvador Vallejo jailed at the fort; July 11, 1846 U.S. flag raised over the fort; John Sutter delegate to Constitutional Convention)

Torrey Pines SR (Dr. C.C. Parry, engaged with the Mexican Boundary Survey in 1850, and Dr. Joseph Le Conte identified the Torrey Pines as a distinct species)

William B. Ide Adobe SP (park memorial to William B. Ide's involvement in the Bear Flag Revolt; Ide served as President of the Bear Flag Republic; May 7, 1847--Ide appointed Land Surveyor of the Northern Department of Upper California by Col. Richard B. Mason)