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54 being carried northward toward Santa Cruz by the then prevailing south wind. He engaged fishermen to go out in their boats and the tree was found some twelve miles out at sea and towed to shore. Assisted financially by Mr. Henry Green of Monterey, Father Mestres caused the tree to be erected on ‘a prepared mound in the grounds of his church, the site of the original Mission established by Father Serra in 1770, where it is now, majestic even in death, with a marble tablet appropriately inscribed beside it.

Such is the story of the historic oak that witnessed the elaborate ceremonies conducted by Portola and Serra on