About this property
El Castillo de Monterey (Spanish for "The Castle of Monterey") was a fortification in Monterey, California, founded in 1792 by the Spanish Empire. The fort was constructed to protect the Monterey port and the Presidio of Monterey from invaders. The site was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 23, 1971. Recognizing the significance of Monterey Bay, the Spanish sought to establish a firm presence in Alta California. The fort, initiated in 1792, started as a rudimentary log parapet with seven mounted and four unmounted cannons positioned behind it, aiming to safeguard the nearby Presidio of Monterey. Positioned on present-day Presidio Hill, the site sits on a level plain at an elevation of 60 ft (18 m), with views of the Monterey Harbor. By 1796, enhancements were made to the Castillo, strengthening it with the addition of a new 60 ft (18 m) earthen V-shape embankment, 4 ft (1.2 m) high, on the side facing the Monterey Bay. The upgrades comprised a wooden gun platform supported by adobe bricks, casemates, and a barracks for the artillerymen. Despite these improvements, the Castillo did not attain sufficient fortification, and people visiting the area commonly criticized its capabilities. The initial trial for the Castillo occurred on November 20, 1818, when two Argentine pirate ships, led by Commander Hippolyte Bouchard, launched an assault on Monterey. The pirates were unsuccessful in a frontal assault on the town and opted to disembark a command on Point Pinos. From there, they initiated their first attack on the Castillo, overpowering the defenders. Subsequently, they redirected the cannons towards the town, launching an assault that overwhelmed the defenders, prompting them to flee. The pirates went on to ransack the town, demolishing the Castillo's cannons and buildings. Before departing, they set the town on fire. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821. On November 3, 1836, Jose Castro, alongside a coalition of disgruntled ranchers, Indigenous people, and Americans, successfully captured the Castillo. The cannons were once again directed towards the town, compelling Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez to surrender after a single cannon shot. On October 19, 1842, Commodore Thomas Catesby Jones of the United States Navy erroneously thought that the United States and Mexico were at war, leading him to take control of the fort on October 20, 1842. After realizing his mistake, Jones offered an apology and reinstated Mexican rule. The U.S. Congress proclaimed the Mexican–American War on May 11, 1846, following a Mexican assault on U.S. forces in Texas. This declaration paved the way for the American occupation of California. The commencement of the American period occurred in Monterey, marked by the entry of U.S. naval ships into Monterey Bay. While in command of the Savannah, Navy Captain William Mervine led a detachment of sailors and United States Marines against Monterey, California.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was El Castillo listed on the National Register?
El Castillo was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 23, 1971.
What type of historic resource is El Castillo?
El Castillo is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for El Castillo?
The period of significance for El Castillo is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1792.
Can I research the history near El Castillo?
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