The first recorded European sighting of San Francisco Bay

Perched on Sweeney Ridge, the San Francisco Bay Discovery Site celebrates the initial European view of the San Francisco Bay. In 1769, the Portola expedition reached San Pedro Creek on October 31 and camped there for four nights. During this time, scouts led by José Francisco Ortega climbed Sweeney Ridge, where they could see over the ridge toward the east, becoming the first Europeans to see San Francisco Bay on November 1.

The scouts returned on November 3 and led the entire party up to the ridge on November 4. Franciscan missionary Juan Crespi noted in his diary, "from the summit of a peak we beheld the great estuary or arm of the sea." After seeing the immense bay to the east, the party turned southeast and descended toward the bay.

Nowadays, Sweeney Ridge forms part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and holds historical significance as a California Historical Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. The spot chosen for the marker is somewhat arbitrary, as the precise location where the party reached the summit of the ridge is not known.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons