Sergeant Jose Francisco Ortega

Historical marker location:

31822 Del Obispo St, San Juan Capistrano, California

( Marker is on Del Obispo Street, 0.1 miles south of Ortega Highway, on the right when traveling north.)

Marker installed: 2014

California was once a part of Mexico before it became a U.S. state. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821 and California became a Mexican territory. However, in 1846, the U.S. declared war on Mexico and after a brief conflict, California was ceded to the U.S. as a part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.