Wandering Lizard
Central Coast of California

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo is believed to have seen Monterey Bay in 1542. He called it the Bay of Pines. Sebastian Vizcaino actually landed in 1602. In 1770 Gaspar Portola and Father Junipero Serra founded a small community. Many of the original buildings have long since disappeared but several have been preserved and can be visited today. Among the most interesting are the Customs House. In 1846 Commander John Drake Sloat raised the flag of the United States over the Customs House and claimed Monterey for the United States.