HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistory of the City of San Luis Obispo History of Son Luis Obispo
.oseph A. Carotenuti
City Historian/Archivist
History has no beginning. Those interested in the past simply must pick a time or place or
person and designate a "beginning." So with the history of our community... the "beginning" is
simply an arbitrary point in time. As such, there is never a definitive history, but only one that
captures— hopefully, accurately— some of the past.
Certainly, eons ago as the earth formed and groaned into great land and sea divides, this area
remained recessed under water and in an unimaginable space of time, rose from the beneath
the sea into the shape of land we call home. An informative book, Mountains of Fire, provides
a considerable amount of information locked away in our geological past.
Who was eventually here — or when they came — will imagine the native populations and the
unknown amount of time they spent roaming a more pristine world. Their life, hopes, and
dreams can only be vaguely discerned from existing evidence. However, for us, the Chumash
are our geographical ancestors.
For most of our documented history, however, the records begin with ships' logs as vessels sail
primarily south along the coast carrying treasures from the East to the ports in New Spain
(Mexico). Nameless at the time, San Luis Obispo then was a place seen from a distance,
anonymously tucked away in the scenery viewed from the sea. There were some mariners
brave enough to attempt to reach shore — most would be looking for treasure and not
sightseeing — but the best records begin relatively recently in 1769. What was named "San Luis
Obispo" wasn't here but near Santa Barbara.
Next time: What happened in 1769?
Contact: jacarotenuti @gmail.com
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History of San Luis Obispo 2
Joseph A. Carotenuti
City Historian/Archivist
Office of the City Clerk
San Luis Obispo originated in the Spanish minds on the Iberian Peninsula as well as New Spain
(Mexico). Only it wasn't a place or a goal but part of an ambitious expedition to the vast,
unexplored north of the Americas' empire. If you had used the name San Luis Obispo, everyone
would think you were referring to the 13th century French saint...not a place in the unexplored
world.
History not only has no beginning, it abhors a straight line. A man-made concept, going
"straight" to point B from point A is unknown to students of history. Thus, vast amounts of
information are intertwined along the way and are slighted in studying"San Luis Obispo" as the
saint and place shifts from the realm of the spiritual to that of the secular.
Suffice to note here, the decision was made to explore...and settle...some of the unknown land
that belonged to the Crown. The pioneer expedition — popularly, but inaccurately, called the
Sacred Expedition -was led by Gaspar de Portola while the "spiritual conquest" was the realm
of a few Franciscan friars led by the legendary Padre Junipero Serra. In a grueling adventure by
land and sea worthy of its own tale, by July 1769 on the shores of San Diego, California's first
pioneers buried the many dead, scrounged the countryside for food, and made plans to move
further north.Their orders were to establish themselves on the shores of Monterey.
Serra stayed behind with the sick and dying and Portola left on a six-month land expedition.
Traveling along the coast north of today's Santa Barbara, on August 21, Padre Juan Crespi, the
chaplain and chronicler for the party,wrote of the location:
"We gave it the name San Luis Obispo (Saint Louis Bishop) so
that in time it shall become a good-sized shoreline mission.
He was correct except the future mission wasn't on the shoreline. While the name did not
survive in its original location, many names of areas, geographical markers, streams, etc. from
this exhausting trek are still found on modern maps.Traveling through the western portion of
our county,the caravan suffered greatly as it sought the "bay" of Monterey(which they did not
recognize as their records were over 150 years old...and inaccurate) but managed to reach the
south arm of San Francisco Bay(which was unknown).
Fast forward to the summer of 1772. By then, four missions had been established: San Diego,
Monterey, San Antonio and San Gabriel. Food was always a major issue and Pedro Fages, now
leading the pioneers, remembered the bears at la Llano de los osos" (Bear Plain) along the
coast from the previous expeditions. The famous bear hunt (another story skipped!) found a
small group of soldiers attempting to kill the mean beasts for food. Fortunately, notice was
received of supply ships having arrived at San Diego. Fages - accompanied by Fra Serra -
headed south.
This was Serra's first land trip through the area. Quickly performing his religious duties locally.
he left an enduring legacy for us all.
Next time: What happened on September 2, 1772?
Questions? Contact: jacarotenuti @gmail.com
History of San Luis Obispo 5
Joseph A. Carotenuti
City Historian/Archivist
Put yourself in their shoes. The mission settlement of San Luis Obispo is
now part of a new nation, laws, traditions, customs and beliefs. Indeed,
some among you have been citizens of three sovereign nations. Your
obligation is to establish some form a local government in concert with
the new nation's Constitution (only vaguely known). So it was on
September 9, 1850 when California became the 31st state of the Union.
Set against an increasingly strident debate between "slave" and "free"
states, the Compromise of 1850 allowed California a star on the
American flag.
Fortunately, the years between 1846 with the raising of the Stars and
Stripes in Monterey to Statehood had spared San Luis Obispo much of
the chaos and disorder of the north. While far from the formerly
somnolent settlement along San Francisco Bay with its dazzling array of
humanity intent on accumulating wealth, the central coast had few
resources available for the governmental seismic shift.
As if scripted for a theatrical production, an entirely unexpected overlay
of humanity poured into the eventual state fueled by the allure and
fascination with gold. Within a very short time, those who sought
instant wealth — and even more who never found it — inundated
whatever semblance of order existed in the vast territory. For a loosely
organized area along the central coast, few had even a clue as to what
to do to "insure domestic tranquility."
Even before an attempt was made to form a constitution for an
eventual state, governance was by the military. First as an occupied
territory as a "belligerent" in the Mexican-American War and then as a
military protectorate of the United States formalized by the Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), there was little experience in forming civic
protocols to replicate locally.
Recalling the 1849 State Constitution Convention (it was replaced 30
years later) provides a fascinating report of men originally from many
parts of the nation meeting in Monterey debating just what kind of
government and laws were to be provided for the new state. There
were few Californios involved in the discussion and many required a
translator. Locally, Henry Tefft from Nipomo was among the delegates.
Against a backdrop of a few fortunes and many more frustrations,
California was finally admitted into the Union four years after the Union
Jack was raised in the capital. The debates in Congress over admission
provide a preview of the fissure in democracy that resulted in the
brutality of the Civil War a decade later.
Having attained Statehood, simply finding enough lodging for the
legislators to determine state regulations had been a challenge.
California's capitol started in San Jose moved first to Vallejo, then
Benicia, followed by Sacramento (twice) and San Francisco before
settling in its current location. At least for our county, the place...
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa...became the center of
governance...but only for the new County.
Even though there was a State Constitution, a designated county and
county seat, locally there were few to somehow assume the reins of
leadership, develop, pass and enforce laws, and — most importantly —
pay for the machinery of government.
Next time: San Luis Obispo continues to contend with governance.
Questions? Contact: iacarotenuti @gmail.com