For hundreds of years, the riches of river and sea have drawn people to the Capitola area. The Soquel Ohlone Indians once hunted and gathered in nearby valleys and along the shore, and later Chinese and Italian fishermen harvested fish and shellfish from the bay. In the late 1800s, visitors seeking relief from valley heat came for cooler weather and scenic coastal beauty. Throughout Capitola’s history, people worked to keep the beach beautiful and open to the public. In the late 1800s, Samuel Hall and Fredrick Hihn developed campgrounds and a resort where vacationers could stay in the Capitola Hotel or pitch a tent for free. Built in 1857, the Capitola Wharf first served as an important shipping point for lumber, leather, and other goods, and it has long been a favorite place for fishing and enjoying the bay. Today Capitola’s connection to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary helps protect the beach and bay for public enjoyment, while fishing, boating, and diving are allowed and oil drilling, ocean dumping, and other harmful activities are prohibited.