Historic Anchor -- Mission San Gabriel Archangel, San Gabriel CA
N 34° 05.822 W 118° 06.403
11S E 397911 N 3773467
The anchor of the topsail schooner "Guadalupe," on display at the place where she was built in 1830: the first ship built in California out of local materials
Waymark Code: WMQWQZ
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 04/07/2016
Views: 2
The topsail schooner “Guadalupe” was built in 1830 at Mission San Gabriel Archangel to take Mission-produced goods to markets in Mexico where they could be sold or traded for other needs.
Her anchor was an odd thing to see in the courtyard of a Spanish Mission, but fortunately a nearby interpretive sign let us in on its cool history:
"HISTORIC ANCHOR
Anchor of the 99-ton topsail schooner “Guadalupe” built here in 1830 by Joseph Chapman, Michael White, Thomas Paine, and Mission Indians.
Dismantled, she was hauled down the road of San Pedro on carretas (carts). Reassembled and launched as first ship built in California using native materials.
In 1831, Don “Miguel Blanco” (Michael White), master, sailed her to Mazatlan and San Blas Mexico, with Mission goods.
Mission blacksmiths have since melted and cut off pieces of the anchor to make hinges, hose, nails and other such articles."
Group that erected the marker: Claretian Fathers
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:
428 S Mission St
San Gabriel, CA
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