The West side of Morro Rock isn't defaced and remains as seen by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (1542) and possibly Pedro de Unamuno (1587). This view is from the North. Morro Rock is just to the right of center in this photograph.

Something about Morro Rock a few miles out to sea is that it blends with the surrounding hills and doesn't appear to be massive especially in a salt fog like this one. It makes you wonder if early explorers ever saw it. Local lore says Cabrillo did. In addition, some 19th century historians claimed he was buried at San Simeon, not San Miguel Island.

On this site we have many old photographs and also some stories about the old-timers of Morro Bay. The time period covered will, for the most part, be the war years, however, we continue to look for earlier events and people.

Copyright July 1999 by Vic Hansen
Please note: It is easy to copy photos from this site but it is also illegal. Many of my photos I will give willingly to anyone who asks. Please honor the donors to this site by not stealing their photographs. Thanks. vlh.

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Morro Bay Today...Before you delve into the past, you might want to take a slide show tour around the town. A map of historical buildings...before visiting Morro Bay you may wish to print this Coast Guard Training Exercise...See these spectacular photos taken by Gary Robertshaw December 4, 2007. e-mail...see below

1840--1929

Mexican Land Grants in San Luis Obispo County The Canets......1840 Rancho Moro Y Cayucos.1842___plus Early Cayucos and Archaeology of Estero Villa Creek and Rancho San Geronimo___Rafael Villavicencio's land grant and the Villa family today 1848 Treaty The Quintana Saga.......1874 1840 Spanish maps of Rancho San Bernardo The Legend of Morro Castle.....1880 As it was--the north channel___there might be one or two around that remember this Early Steamships....Sailor Brown names twenty-two of them The Stocking Gallery The Hochstetler Album....Morro Bay Fun in the 1890's The Post Office....early buildings 1929 Fifth Street (Morro Bay Boulevard) The First Morro Bay Theater Women's Golf in Morro Bay and the History of the course....(new) 1930--1940 Hard Times in Morro Bay by H. Jesse Walker PhD____Dr. Walker's early life in Morro Bay Morro Elementary School____a teacher remembers the early 1930's, by Mary Elizabeth Williams Madonna and photographs of the classes of 1930 The Great Depression in San Luis Obispo County 1930's____Dorothea Lange Photos Closing the North Entrance to Morro Bay____the causeway 1936 News Excerpts of 1940____plus The Morro Beach Inn and Camp Merriam The Harbor Project to be discussed by local dignitaries......(new March 2007) January 5, 1940 Morro Bay Sun...the entire edition................(new April 2007) The Taffy Men The Standard Oil facility at Estero Beach Leo Ranney House....Morro Bay's only mansion (El Banco Sereno Estate) Albums and Many Individual photographs Huntington Library Photos___Morro Bay and Port Harford Individual Photograph Collections____Joseph Giannini (new), Bickford, Jorge et al Morro Beach Inn (with new front view) Morro Rock Photos and The Ship Cafe More Rock photos The Photo Gallery--people Photogallery two--boats and docks and clam digging Photogallery three--Maston's Market, Banning School 1913, et. al. Postcards from the Past 1941--195_ Armistice Day 1941 and Morro Bay "Navy Day" poster Submarine Attack (yes, here!) in December of '41__The Union Oil Tanker Montebello torpedoed--the full story Morro Bay Sun Archives (Dec 5 '41 and more) December 7, 1941 Japanese Relocation Photographs and Manzanar 2007 The Pat Nagano Story___a popular Morro Bay farm family since 1917 is relocated Rare scrapbook newsphotos about the war Harbor Development During World War Two Cal Poly at War The War Years____also War Posters and Rationing Lockheed Camouflaged___fear of Japanese air attack led to this (new July 08) World War II Front Pages___The San Francisco Examiner 1941--1945 Morro Bay men Serving their Country in 1943 Clair Tyler--missing in action SLO County men killed or MIA in WWII Picture of the Trestle Morro Bay properties for sale in 1943. Tax sale..find out what your property was worth...(new June 2007) The Morro Bay Jubilees 1946...1949 Morro Bay Business people of the late 40's _____remember any of these people? Travel Brochure 1947_____"Morrobathing" beauties anyone? They are here! The Parking Meter (1947) High School Girls of the late 1940's Some Great 1950's Photographs in slide show format...cars on the beach and more M.B. Bluebirds of 1951 Morro Bay Artists The famous plein air artists of Morro Bay_____Harold Knott, Aaron Kilpatrick and Robbie Robinson Painting of Morro Bay by famous artist George Demont Otis Painting by William Wendt of Kilpatrick home thoughts and poems by a woman who loved Morro Bay (1933) Don B Williams--we want to know more about him Abalone and Fishing Morro Bay and Abalone____the people, the divers, processing abalone and the Brebes empire Abalone Divers of Morro Bay 1930--1960 Newest Abalone Pictures___Lawrence Carver, William "Wimpy" Pierce, Lanky Tipton Carmel abalone drying___well, it is close by (recent) Joseph Giannini's Morro Bay influence and his story___from 1946 until present (recent) Morro Bay Fishermen about 1950____A great looking bunch of guys. Do you know any of them? (recent) Bill Casper..Regal Seafood Company____albacore in the 1960's (recent) Various Happy Jacks Saloon...The names have changed but these are still dumps to avoid in Morro Bay Yesterday is still here in Morro Bay___Mikes Barber Shop, The Aquarium, The Shell Shop, Tognazzini's Changes..."Craby" Joe's et. al. Links To Sites We Like The Historical Society Wants You! Asides (not necessarily Morro related) Old San Luis--County Hospital, San Luis Sanitarium, homes Shell Beach Oil Refinery The Korean War Memorial Earthquake 2003, San Miguel Misssion and Old San Miguel The Camp Roberts Museum Central Coast Sunsets Old Time Boxing Boxing Scrapbook Fight signing in Jaurez Mexico, 1913 Comments? Send me E-mail!