Portsmouth Plaza

Named for USS Portsmouth, commanded by Captain John B. Montgomery, after whom Montgomery Street was named. It was here on the plaza that Captain Montgomery first raised the American Flag near the Mexican adobe custom house on July 9, 1846. This plaza was the center of many early-day activities among which were the following: first public school building erected 1847, southwest corner of plaza where religious services and many public meetings were held; dramatic and authoritative announcement of gold discovery made by Sam Brannan on May 11, 1848, who displayed glittering samples to crowds on plaza; election of delegates to Monterey Constitutional Convention urged at mass meeting June 12, 1849; served as place of refuge for citizens following conflagrations of 1849, 1850, 1851, and 1906; on July 16, 1849, crowd assembled to organize against depredations of lawless body called "The Hounds"; memorial services held August 29, 1850, following death of President Zachary Taylor; first Admission Day celebration held October 29, 1850, following news brought by steamship Oregon that California on September 9 had become 31st state; indignation meeting, organized June 1, 1852, to protest against purchase by city council of Jenny Lind Theatre as city hall; commemorative services held for Henry Clay, August 10, 1852; Colonel E. D. Baker, September 18, 1859, delivered oration over body of U.S. Senator David C. Broderick, killed in duel with Chief Justice David S. Terry; and Robert Louis Stevenson spent many hours here during his visit to the city in 1879 to 1880.