How would you call it a «discovery site» even though it’s already occupied and inhabited by other people? Before San Francisco was«discovered» by Europeans, it was a thriving community for the Ohlone tribe. They spoke the language of the Miwok family and they have traded up and down the coast as far as Baja California, Mojave Desert and Yosemite Valley. In fact, the Ohlone tribe had the entire Bay Area all to themselves. This site, although arbitrary located, is supposed to be where the Portola expedition that started in San Diego, is the vicinity where Europeans(specifically Spanish) first laid eyes on the San Francisco Bay in 1769. They were originally searching for the Port of Monterey; however, they were not sure if they found the right place(even though they were in the right place) continued their expedition up north. Here, on top of Sweeney Ridge, the expedition party saw the beauty of the bay. They sent scouts to check out the layout of the land only to come back and report that it’s inhabited by «hostile savages» and they had to turn east(instead of continuing north) on what is now modern Palo Alto. Eventually, they turned south back to Monterey before returning to San Diego and report their findings and the rest is history. The Ohlone tribe is eventually wiped out from the bay and what are left of their tribe are just streets and alleys named in their memory. If you can sense my obvious sarcasm on this review, it’s because I want to make a direct point on the history of the native people of this land. Be that as it may, it’s another point of view that is not often examined on what it was like on the other side. However, it is a significant site as it started the beginning of a new chapter on the history of this land and the ending for another. There are two commemorative monuments on this site from the Portola expedition. I would have loved to have witnessed the natural beauty and unspoiled scenery long before structures were erected and population grew. On a clear day, you can see everything and even though most of the time it’s foggy, it’s still eerily and hauntingly beautiful in its own way. It’s worth the trek if you’re hiking Sweeney Ridge, and maybe you can get a different perspective and pretend that you were part of that expedition laying eye on San Francisco Bay for the first time.
