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(1972) Please
note the the establishment of Fort Nuenz Gaona in EXCMO
Antonio Sanchez Ph.D. El
Conde de Revilla Gigedo, Virrey de Nueva
España, tomó la decisión de establecer
un asentamiento español en la entrada del Estrecho Juan de Fuca en el lugar denominado Nuñez
Gaona, encomendándosela al Teniente de Navio Salvador Hidalgo. El 23
de marzo de 1792 salió de San Blass abordo del Princesa siendo su primer piloto Antonio Serrants,
su segundo piloto Hipólito Tono, el capellan Jose Alejandro Lopez de Nava y el circujano Juan de Dios Moreno, 70 marineros y 13 soldados
llegando a Nuñez Gaona el
29 de mayo. El 29 de septiembre de 1792 el Princesa zarpo de Nuñez Gaona abandonando dicho
establecimiento. El
proyecto consiste localizar los diarios de Salvador Fidalgo
entre el 29 de mayo y 29 de septiembre de 1792 en que estuvo en el Fuerte de
Núñez Gaona abordo del Princesa. Durante
dicho verano visitaron Nuñez Gaona
Alcala Galiano y Cayetano Valdes
al mando de las fragatas Sútil y Mexicana. Esta visita es importante ya que
establecieron muy nuevas relaciones con el Jefe Tetaco
y su familia y Jose Cordero hizo una serie de
dibujos de la zona y de los nativos que están en el Museo de las Américas de Madrid. Igualmente
visitó el establecimiento la Santa Gertrudis a finales de julio al mando de
Alonso de Torres y Guerrero. Fact Sheet
Fort
Nunez Gaona – Diah Veterans Park On the shores of
what is now called Neah
Bay the Spanish constructed the first European settlement in the Continental United States West of the
Rockies and North of San Francisco. This historic settlement was called Fort
Nunez Gaona. Alferez Manuel Quimper landed in his sloop, the
Princesa Real, near this site on July
24, 1790. He named
the bay, Bahía de Nuñez Gaona after
Admiral Manuel Nunez Gaona, a high ranking naval official. Quimper took formal possession of Nunez Gaona Bay, already inhabited by the Makah people,
in the name of Spanish King
Carlos of Castile and Leon on
August 1, 1790. Frigate Princesa off Fort Nunez
Gaona Although Nunes Gaona bay
was not well suited for
mooring large ships, it offered
Spain a ready base for protecting Spain’s political, commercial, and scientific interests in this region. This bay played a significant role in international
history and intrigue during this period
of the 18th century, as other European powers challenged Spain’s claim to the
Pacific Northwest in an attempt to
expand their own naval and commercial influence here and vie
for dominance. On
May, 29, 1792, Lt. Sálvador
Fidalgo, following the orders of
Count Revillagigedo the Viceroy of New
Spain, guided the Spanish frigate
Princesa to this shore and officially established the Spanish settlement Fort Nunez Gaona. Aboard were Spanish, Mexican, and Peruvian born settlers, led by Spaniard Commander Salvador Fidalgo, First Pilot Antonio Serantes, Second Pilot Hipolito Tono, Chaplin Jose Alejandro Lopez de Nava, Surgeon Juan de Dios
Morelos, seventy seaman, and thirteen soldiers. The colonists cleared the land along
the stream behind where this monument now stands and
constructed their settlement across the stream from
the Makah villages. Chief Tetaku, considered the most important leader of this
region, was the first Native
American from this area to
board a Spanish ship. He sailed across the Strait of
Juan de Fuca with the Spanish, acting as ambassador for his people. The settlement of Fort Nunez Gaona
consisted of an infirmary, storehouses, dwellings, place of worship, bakery,
and a battery for mounting canons. There were also
corrals for pigs, sheep, cows, and goats. For sustenance, the men planted vegetables,
grains, and fruits. Fort Nunez
Gaona under construction. Drawing by Jose Cadero, June 1792, showing the earliest white settlement in what is now
Washington State From this settlement the Spanish conducted the first international
trading with the native people
of Washington, completed scientific studies of local flora and fauna, recorded and preserved the language, songs, religion and, customs of the
Native people, and mapped and
named key geographical points . Even as the settlers
underwent these important activities, they also brought
their own culture. Steel implements, ceramics, and other technology
were introduced as well as agricultural plants and livestock
that are now the foundation of Washington’s economy. The fort was
occupied until September 29th 1792, when
Fildalgo received orders to abandon
the bay and move to
Nootka, a more developed port facility on Vancouver Island. Spain officially relinquished its claim to
this region in 1819 under the Adams
Onis Treaty. Spain sent some of
its best scientists and mariners to investigate, map, and explore the Pacific Northwest
from 1774 to 1795. The most noted
were; Juan Pérez, Esteban José Martínez, Bruno de Hezeta, Juan Francisco Bodega y Quadra,
Antonio Mourelle, Ignacio Arteaga, Gonzalo López de
Haro, Francisco Eliza, Manuel Quimper,
Alejandro Malispina, Dionisio Alcala
Galiano, Cayetano Valdez, José Camacho, Juan Matrinez
Zayas, Tomas de Suria,
José Bustamante, Mariano Mozino, Jacinto Caamaño,
Felipe Bauza, José Cardero, and Ramón
Saavedra. These intrepid explorers and scientists left an enduring
historical scientific and commercial legacy in Washington State. This monument should serve to recognize a shared past and honor the accomplishments of two important nations, one native and one
foreign, whose path of destiny
intersected on this site resulting
in the birth of a new and
indelible chapter in the history of
this region. On this site a monument honoring the approximately 300 brave veterans from Neah Bay who honorably served in the United State military will take it rightful
place.
This
information is obtained from USA Dept of Defense, Archives
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The establishment of Fort Nuenz Gaona in Washington State
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