January 7, 11am to 4pm, San Juan Bautista State Historic Park Saloon.

The San Juan Bautista State Historic Park is proud to host a special educational exhibit , “Firearms of the War with Mexico". This exhibit will include discussions of the history around them by costumed docents.  The Park will also have it's traditional 19th century Living History event going on through out the rest of the park. Historic weapons representing those brought by the US forces are seldom seen outside major museums. In addition, the types of weapons available to the Californios and American Volunteers will also be on display.  This is a rare opportunity to learn about the weapons of the time and about the Battles and events in California when it became part of the United States.  Please join us for this unique display!  
For more information contact  Marcos Vizcaino, park phone 831-623-4881.
 

General Information: The war in California started with the raising of the American flag by Sailors and Marines landing in Monterey, July 7th 1846. Commodore Sloat proclaimed: “We are now about to land on the territory of Mexico, with whom the United States is at war. To strike their flag and hoist our own in place of it is our duty. It is not only our duty to take California, but to preserve it afterwards as part of the United States at all hazards. To accomplish this, it is of the first importance to cultivate the good opinions of the inhabitants whom we must reconcile”. Equipped with the most modern firearms of the times, the Navy was later joined by the Army under General Kearney.