Monterey, CA news and local guide

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo described the bay as La Bahia de los Pinos, and on December 16, 1602, Sebastian Vizcaino anchored in the harbor and named it Puerto de Monterrey for the Conde de Monterrey, viceroy of New Spain. The exposed harbor was not settled for more than 150 years, though it was known for tall pines for ship masts. In 1769 the Portola expedition, searching for Vizcaino's harbor, reached it on October 1 without recognizing it and camped near one of its lagoons on November 27 on the way back. Portola returned by land the next year, convinced he had found the port after all, and was met by Junipero Serra, who came by sea. Portola built the Presidio of Monterey, and on June 3, 1770, Serra founded the church of San Carlos Borromeo inside the presidio. Captain Pedro Fages succeeded Portola and served as governor of Alta California from 1770 to 1774. Serra soon clashed with Fages and moved his mission to Carmel the next year, while the presidio church remained in use as the Royal Presidio Chapel. Monterey became the capital of the Province of Both Californias in 1777, and after the original chapel burned in 1789 it was replaced by the present building. Sources Wikipedia: Monterey, California