Spanish Landing Park
Spanish Landing is a historical site at Spanish Landing Park in San Diego, California, at San Diego Bay. The Spanish Landing site is a California Historical Landmark No. 891 listed on February 20, 1976. It is the site of landing by the Spanish Portolá expedition with leaders Gaspar de Portolá and Junípero Serra.
The Spanish ships San Antonio and San Carlos landed ship's boats at the site in 1769, looking for fresh water on the San Diego River, on their San Diego expedition. San Antonio arrived in San Diego Bay on April 11, 1769, and San Carlos on April 29. They came ashore on May 1, 1769, and set up a base camp on May 14. On July 1, the ships' party met up with the party that had marched inland from Baja California. The Spanish landing started the founding of Alta California for the Spanish Empire.
A historical marker was placed in Spanish Landing Park in San Diego. The marker was placed there in 1976 by the State Department of Parks and Recreation working with the San Diego Unified Port District and Squibob Chapter, E Clampus Vitus.