Guns on Point Loma: A History of Fort Rosecrans and the Defense of San Diego Harbor, by Stephen R. Van Wormer and Linda Roth. The Military on Point Loma. Cabrillo Festival Historic Seminar, Cabrillo Historical Association, 1985 (original) (raw)

A Bastion Too Far: The Underdevelopment of the Royal Presidio of Monterey, 1770-1840

2015

Monterey was the first European capital of Alta California, and the Spanish Royal Presidio of Monterey (aka El Real Presidio de San Carlos de Monte Rey), is one of the most historic sites in California. Despite its significance, the history and archaeology of the Presidio of Monterey has largely been forgotten and overshadowed by other 18th and 19th century California Spanish colonial mission and presidio sites. Analysis of the archaeological and historical records of the Presidio indicate an “underdevelopment” of the main quadrangle and defensive walls during the Spanish, Mexican, and early American periods. In contrast to this architectural underdevelopment of the site, analysis of census and mission records demonstrate the development of new cultural and ethnic identities. The soldiers and settlers of the Presidio experienced changes to their ascribed identities under the sistema de castas through processes of ethnogenesis, and transitioned to gente de razón, a more unified identity. Both archaeological and historical data present telling indicators for the changing nature of the Presidio’s physical and cultural landscapes during the colonial periods.

SAN DIEGO, GUARDIAN OF THE AMERICAN PACIFIC

San Diego did not easily become the home port of America's Pacific fleet. It was two decades after the US acquisition of the Philippines, Guam, and Hawai'i before a combination of imperialist naval strategy, Japanese expansionism, the Great White Fleet, unrest in Mexico and Central America, the completion of the Panama Canal, the Panama-California Exposition, a supportive congressman, and energetic civic leadership coa-lesced on the issue. Together, these factors led to the establishment of major naval facilities in this southern California city.

Loryma Bay

Contribution on TAN (turkisharchaeonews.net).