the seventh flag over California
N 36° 36.369 W 121° 53.713
10S E 598805 N 4051750
wow, the capital of California was once in the hands of a Pirate
Waymark Code: WM10FG
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 12/02/2006
Views: 239
Pirates in California?
How many flags have there been flying over California? The
Spanish flag, the
Mexican flag, the
Bear Flag and since 1849 the
US flag. In addition, for one day,
Sir Francis Drake planted the Union Jack in the San Francisco Bay, and for 29 years, the Russians had a
fort up north.
Flags over California:
California's four official flags at Monterey's Transit Plaza;
Sir Francis Drake's Flag and the flag of the Russian-American Company
Is that all? No! For a couple of days in October 1818, the Capital of Alta California was in the hands of a South American Pirate!
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Unfortunately, the only thing close to the "Seventh Flag" is this empty flag pole I urge you to find. It honors a 19th century pirate who deserves more credit.
Born in France and sailing for South American revolutionaries since 1811, Hippolyte de Bouchard
was granted citizenship of a country that broke away from the Spanish Empire in 1810.
In 1817, when Spain’s South American colonies fought for independence, Bouchard circumnavigated the globe, hunting Spanish merchant ships wherever he could find them. In 1818, after leaving Hawaii, he began raiding the coast of Spanish Alta California.
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Other monuments at the same site |
On October 20, 1818, Bouchard anchored in Monterey Bay and landed with 400 men. They ransacked the presidio, took everything they could carry from the homes and left soon after.
In the late 1990s, members of the Navy of his adopted home contry dedicated this little monument in memory of the day when he hoisted the flag of a young South American nation over the capital of a Spanish colony.
You can find this monument (and the answer to the two questions) in an relatively unknown part of Monterey's State Historic Park, next to the first non-indian grave in California and the site of the first mass in Central California. |
In order to log this waymark, you have to answer two questions.
The first one you can probably get through some internet research, but for the second one you will definitely have to visit the little monument:
1. Which South American nation granted its citizenship to Bouchard in 1813 and had its flag flying over California for three days in 1818?
2. In which year and at which anniversary of his coup was this monument dedicated?
Extra Credit will be given to anybody who actually manages to get a picture of the flag in question at the usually vacant flagpole. Legend has it that the flag is flown on October 20.
Another well hidden secret of this place is the magnificent view over the Monterey Bay
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