Drakes Bay

Naming

The bay was named by English-born American surveyor George Davidson in 1875, after Sir Francis Drake. It has long been considered Drake's most likely landing spot on the west coast of North America during his circumnavigation of the world by sea in 1579.

Description

The bay is fed by Drake's Estero, an expansive estuary on the Point Reyes peninsula. The estuary is protected by Estero de Limantour State Marine Reserve & Drakes Estero State Marine Conservation Area. Point Reyes State Marine Reserve & Point Reyes State Marine Conservation Area lie within Drakes Bay. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.

History

A portion of the coastal area of Drakes Bay is archaeologically and historically important. It is believed to be the site of Francis Drake's 1579 landfall (which he called New Albion), and also the location where a Spanish Manila galleon sank during a storm in 1595. Both Drake and the Portuguese commander of the galleon, Sebastião Rodrigues Soromenho, interacted with the local Coast Miwok.

There are 15 archaeological sites on the bay of Miwok settlements where European trade goods have been found, including materials that the Miwok probably recovered from the wrecked galleon. The region was designated a National Historic Landmark District on October 17, 2012.

References

References

1. "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 10/22/12 through 10/27/12". [[National Park Service]].
2. {{gnis. 222586. Drakes Bay
3. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
4. "Point Reyes National Seashore California". [[National Park Service]].
5. "Drakes Bay National Historic Landmark Historic District". National Park Service.
6. Kovner, Guy. (17 October 2012). "Drakes Bay at Point Reyes named national historic landmark". [[The Press Democrat]].
7. (17 October 2012). "US Interior Dept. makes 4 Calif. sites landmarks". [[San Jose Mercury News]].