Portus Novae Albionus

Many scholars believe this cove was the site of Sir Francis Drake’s California harbor, where he brought the Golden Hinde ashore to repair a leak suffered at sea and replenish the ship from 17 June to 25 July 1579. He camped on shore, and local Indians watched the Englishmen from the surrounding hills before coming down to make friendly contact. Near the end of this stay, he traveled “up the land” and found the interior “farre different from the shoare, a goodly country….” Before leaving to complete his circumnavigation of the world, he raised a monument consisting of a “great and firm post” with a brass plate to claim the land for Queen Elizabeth I, calling it Nova Albion for the white cliffs facing the sea.

California · United States