Page 8 - Historical Study of Yerba Buena Island, Treasure Island and Their Buildings

Timeline

Yerba Buena Island, 1579 - 1994

1579 Sir Francis Drake sails by the opening to San Francisco Bay, but does not document
the existence of the Bay.

1769 I• Gaspar de Portola first documents the San Francisco Bay.

1775 Juan Manuel de Ayala is the first person to survey and map San Francisco Bay and
gives Yerba Buena Island the name "Isla de la Alcatraces".

1826 • Captain Beechey of the British research ship Blossom copies Ayala's map but puts
"Isla de la Alcatraces" on an island to the northwest of Y erba Buena Island.
Consequently, he is the first to use the name "Yerba Buena Island" for this island.

1835 • Private ownership begins:
• 183 5 - 1849 - Nathan Spear is the first American claimant and first to introduce
goats to Y erba Buena Island. Because of this the Island becomes locally
known as "Goat Island".
• 1849 - 1850- Edward King buys claim from Spear but never occupies the island.
• 1850- 1856-Thomas Dowling and Mr. Jennings claim and live on the island.
• 1856 - 1866-Thomas Dowling, Charles Scott, and John Vandewater claim the
island in a partnership.
• 1866 - 1867 - Benjamin S. Brooks buys all claims to the island and then sells to
Egbert Judson. Brooks, Dowling and Judson continue to live on the island
until the Army confiscates the island in 1867 and forces them to leave.

1850 • Mexican control ends, United States takes control of California.
• President Filmore claims all coastal islands for the US Government which
is later interpreted to include Y erba Buena Island.

1867 Army establishes it's presence and claims the island forcing the
1· end of Private ownership.

1868 I· Army establishes artillery base on the east cove.

1871 I· Army Fourth Artillery Detachment assigned to Yerba Buena Island.

1872 I• Army base is officially listed as an Army Quartermaster Depot.

1875 A lighthouse and buoy depot, operated by the US Lighthouse Service,
1· is established on the south point of the island.

1879 I• Army Fourth Artillery Detachment transferred to the Presidio of San Francisco.

P-2 Historical Study ofYerba Buena Island, September 1, 1995
Treasure Island, and their Buildings