18-19th Century
From Spanish Acquisition to Subdivisions
1769: Under the Spanish Explorer, Gaspar de Portola, the area was first mentioned by Father Juan Crespi, a diarist on the expedition, noting the springs in which they hunted had pure water springs that reminded him of Saint Monica’s tears. (Paula 2004, P. 17) Although he called the location San Gregorio, it was his description of the land that would give the City of Santa Monica’s its name. 1822: The land passed from Spanish rule to the Mexican Republic and came under private ownership. |
1828: Don Francisco Sepulveda was given provisional title to Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica which included the area between the Santa Monica Canyon and what is now Pico Boulevard and northeasterly into the Westwood region.
1839: Ysidro Reyes and Francisco Marquez were provisionally granted the Rancho known as Boca de Santa Monica (Santa Monica Canyon). July 15, 1875: the first lots were put on the auction block. The lots sold for $500.00 and $75.00. 1890: The Southern Pacific abruptly abandoned the Wilmington and San Pedro ports and instead began routing its freight trains to Santa Monica, but the city loses the bid to become the Port of LA. |
“At one o’clock we will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder the Pacific Ocean, draped with a western sky of scarlet and gold; we will sell a bay filled with white winged ships; we will sell a southern horizon, rimmed with a choice collection of purple mountains carved in castles and turrets and domes; we will sell a frostless, bracing, warm yet unlangured air braided in and out with sunshine and odored with the breath of flowers.”
- Tom Fitch, The Auctioneer of the First Lots of Santa Monica |