Old Monterey Foundation Continues Monthly “Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking Tours” on Saturday, May 21 2016 with a focus on the infamous Hipolite Bouchard.

Old Monterey Foundation continues to team up with noted Monterey Bay historian and author, Tim Thomas, who offers the fascinating “Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking Tours” on the third Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM – Noon.

The next Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking tour will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016:  “Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking Tour: Focus on the infamous Hipolite Bouchard.” In addition to other interesting history of the Park described as “The Most Significant Historic Site on the West Coast”, Thomas will discuss Argentinian Hipolite Bouchard’s raid in 1818 when he attacked and sacked the City of Monterey, which is the only land and sea battle ever to occur on the West Coast of the United States.

Bouchard (15 January 1780 – 4 January 1837), was a French Argentine sailor and privateer who fought for France, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. His first action was as a lieutenant for the Napoleonic Navy against Admiral Nelson at the Battle of the Nile. Emmigrating to Argentina after Napoleon’s exile, he fought first as a soldier for his adopted country for San Martin in the battle to free Chile from Spanish rule. During his first campaign as an Argentine privateer, he attacked the Spanish colonies of Chile and Peru, under the command of the Irish-Argentine Admiral William Brown.

He next took command of the captured frigate, La Argentina and became the first Argentine to circumnavigate the world. During his voyage around the globe he blockaded the port of Manila. In Hawaii, he recovered an Argentine privateer which had been seized by mutineers. He met the local ruler, King Kamehameha I, and recruited many Hawaiian natives as sailors for his fleet. His forces then attacked the Spanish ciudad of Monterey, California, raised the Argentine flag and held the town for six days. After burning Monterey, he feinted at Santa Barbara and then plundered Mission San Juan Capistrano in Southern California. Toward the end of the voyage Bouchard raided Spanish ports in Central America. His second homeland remembers him as a hero and patriot, the South American equivalent of our John Paul Jones; several places in Buenas Aires are named in his honor.

Tours meet in front of the City of Monterey’s Presidio of Monterey Museum, 113 Corporal Ewing, Building #113. From Monterey, take Pacific Street past the Monterey Conference Center and the First Theater to the end of Pacific where it forks, take the left fork;, turn left onto Artillery Road, turn right on Corporal Ewing Road and follow it a short way to the Presidio of Monterey Museum in the center of the Park against the hill; from Pacific Grove, take Lighthouse Avenue in New Monterey, bear right to go onto Pacific Street and then go to Artillery Road, turn right, and then turn right on Corporal Ewing Road and follow it to the Presidio of Monterey Museum. (Map/Directions: http://www.monterey.org/museums/Home/Map-and-Directions?2)

Advance reservations are required by calling Tim Thomas at (831) 521-3304 or via email timsardine@yahoo.com.  The tour is for ages 10-adult only and the cost is $20 for adults and kids are $15 (10-15 years).  Group rates are also available