Bodega Bay - History

History

Coast Miwok native Americans lived on the shores of Bodega Bay. Documented village names include: Helapattai, Hime-takala, Ho-takala, and Tokau. There is speculation that Bodega Bay may have been Sir Francis Drake's Nova Albion landing location on the California coast.

Present day Bodega Bay was first charted in 1775 by the Spanish Peruvian explorer of the Spanish Navy Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, but the bay that was originally named for him was not present day Bodega, but Tomales Bay. His ship, the Sonora, anchored in the lee of Tomales Point on October 3, 1775, departing the next day. Bodega y Quadra named Tomales Bay Puerto de la Bodega. "There is no evidence in the journal or on the charts that Bodega y Quadra ever saw the entrance to Bodega Harbour or knew of the lagoon to the north". Bodega y Quadra planned to return, but was not able to. Later, as commandant of the naval base at San Blas, New Spain, Bodega y Quadra sent other expeditions to Bodega Bay with the intention of establishing a colony and mission there. It was decided, however, that the location was non-ideal. "With the failure of the Bodega settlement, the Spanish left the field clear for Russian occupation"

The first Russians to see Bodega Bay were the supervisors of the Aleut hunting parties aboard the American otter hunting ship Peacock in 1807. Timofei Osipovich Tarakanov of the Russian-American Company returned to Novo Arkhangelsk, Alaska and reported the location to Alexander Andreyevich Baranov the chief administrator of the RAC. Baranov instructed his assistant Kuskov to reconnoiter the area for a settlement. Commerce Counselor Ivan Alexandrovich Kuskov, of the Russian-American Company,sailing in the Kodiak, entered Bodega Bay on January 8, 1809. Instructed by Baranov to leave "secret signs" (possession plates), Kuskov buried possession plaques at Trinidad Harbour, Bodega Head,(or Tomales Point) and on the north shore of San Francisco Bay, indicating the Company's intention to claim this section of northern California for Russia. Temporary buildings were erected to house the Kodiak's complement of 190 crew (130 native Alaskan males, 20 native females,and 40 Russians)

The Kodiak remained in Bodega Bay until October, 1809, returning to Alaska with over 2,000 otter pelts. Kuskov returned to Novo Arkhangelsk, Alaska, reporting abundant fur bearing mammals, fish, timber and tillable lands. Baranov instructed Kuskov to return and establish a permanent settlement in the area. In 1811 Kuskov returned, this time aboard the Chirikov but found fewer otter in Bodega Bay (only 1,160 otter skins were taken). Three American ships were also operating in the area from a base in Drake's Bay, sending hunters into San Francisco Bay and the surrounding bays. Kuskov sailed the Brig Chirikov back to present day Bodega Harbour on March 15,1812, and "Since Bodega Anchorage and Bodega Harbour had not been claimed or named by the Spanish" Kuskov named it Rumyantzev, in honor of the Russian Minister of Commerce, Count Nikolai Petrovich Rumiantzof. Zaliv Rumiantsev (Rumiantsev Bay) appears on the earliest Russian charts of Bodega Bay (1817–1819) identifying present day Bodega Bay and Bodega Harbour. Bodega Head was named Mouis Rumiantsev (Point Rumiantsev) While Tomales Point was named Point Great Bodega and Tomales Bay Great Bodega Bay, more or less conforming to Bodega y Quadra's original naming.

On his return Kuskov found otter now scarce in Bodega Bay, the harbour having been frequented by numerous American and English otter-hunting expeditions. After exploring the area they ended up selecting a place 15 mi (24 km) north that the native Kashaya Pomo people called Mad shui nui or Metini. Metini, the seasonal home of the native Kashaya Pomo people, had a modest anchorage and abundant natural resources and would become the Russian settlement of Fort Ross. By 1817 sea otter in the area were practically eliminated by international over-hunting. Zaliv Rumiantsev continued to be the main entre'port for the Russian Colony until January,1842, and the earliest European structures built at Bodega Bay were the wharf, warehouse and barracks of the Russian-American Company. Bodega Bay remained an active harbor for shipping lumber until the 1870s, when the North Pacific Coast Railroad was built, bypassing the coast in favor of a more inland route.

Bodega Bay was the setting for the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film, The Birds, starring Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren and Suzanne Pleshette. The original 1980 horror film The Fog was also filmed in both Bodega Bay and the town as both locations are subject to thick and heavy fog.

Pacific Gas & Electric planned to build the first commercially viable nuclear power plant in the USA at Bodega Bay. The proposal was controversial and conflict with local citizens began in 1958. In 1963 there was a large demonstration at the site of the proposed Bodega Bay Nuclear Power Plant. The conflict ended in 1964, with the forced abandonment of plans for the power plant.