Missions and Trade - Gaviota, California
Posted by: 
hotshoe
N 34° 29.106 W 120° 13.713
10S E 754509 N 3819431
HIstory of the Gaviota Embarcadero
Waymark Code: WM6427
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 03/29/2009
Views: 6
The northbound highway rest area has a series of bronze plaques with information about this area's history, and a timeline engraved into the plaza wall.
This plaque reads:
"Mission La Purisima Concepcion, founded in 1787, and Mission Santa Ines,
established in 1804, were both inland settlements, located near present-day
Lompoc and Solvang. Each of these missions also had an embarcadero, a
designated landing where infrequent but eagerly awaited supply ships could
unload their cargoes on the beach. Mission La Purisima had its embarcadero at
Cojo, 12 miles to the west along the Gaviota coast. The landing for Mission Santa
Ines was here at Gaviota Beach. Under Spanish colonial law, California's trade
was restricted to goods supplied via Mexico. In theory, supply ships were to
arrive each year, but in practice the lonely outposts of California sometimes went
years between shipments. Although trading with American and other foreign
ships was forbidden, it became a common means of obtaining much-needed
items. Sea otter pelts and "California banknotes" (cowhides) were exchanged for
sought-after goods unavailable locally. In more recent times, Prohibition-era
bootleggers continued to use Gaviota' remote beaches for smuggling."
Group that erected the marker: State of California
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link]
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
Highway 101 northbound at Gaviota Rest Area
Gaviota, CA USA
93117
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