Porter Building

Historical marker location:

280 Main Street, Watsonville, California

( Marker is on Main Street near Maple Avenue, on the right when traveling north.)

Santa Cruz County Historical Trust Landmark.

The California Gold Rush of 1849 brought a huge influx of people to the state. In just two years, the population of San Francisco grew from 1,000 to 25,000. However, only a small percentage of gold-seekers actually struck it rich, and many ended up in debt or poverty.