First Ship into San Francisco Bay - San Francisco, CA
Posted by: WalruZ
N 37° 48.405 W 122° 25.363
10S E 550817 N 4184530
A marker commemorating the first ship to enter San Francisco Bay
Waymark Code: WM17DE
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 02/11/2007
Views: 31
On August 5, 1775, the Spanish packet San Carlos, under the command of Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala, became the first ship to enter San Francisco Bay. His crew spent a month and a half surveying the bay from its southernmost reaches to the northern end of present-day Suisun Bay. The San Carlos departed September 18, 1775.
The plaque is titled "First Ship into San Francisco Bay"
It sits in San Francisco's Aquatic Park, with a great view of the passage that all ships take in and out of the bay
Explorers had traversed the coast outside the bay many times but missed the entrance due to fog or distance. It wasn't until the bay was discovered by land that ships deliberately sought it's entrance.