Special Event Station for the 240th anniversary of the founding of the city of Monterey, California, on 03 June 1770.

 Note: QSL shown is for the 230th anniversary ten years ago.  A new QSL will be designed.

QSL via WC6DX:  USA with sase, DX via bureau or direct.

County:  Monterey.  Grid square:  CM96bo

 Although Monterey was the second town founded in California (after San Diego de Alcalá in 1769), it is the most historic.

 The town was founded by Franciscan friar Junípero Serra and army Captain D. Gaspar de Portolà during the reign of Carlos III of Spain.  Father Serra later established several missions, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988. Captain Portolà was the first governor of Alta and Baja California before returning to Spain.

 Monterey eventually became the capital of California under the Spanish and Mexican periods, and therefore was a target and captured by US Navy warships on 07 July 1846 during the Mexican-American War.  In 1849, delegates from all over California met in Monterey to draft a state constitution, required before a state could join the union, which California did in 1850.

 Interesting link to ham radio: a bronze statue of Portolà in one of Monterey's plazas was donated to the city by HM King Juan Carlos I of Spain (EA0JC) in 1976.

Enjoy a virtual tour: http://www.monterey.org