Dana Point Harbor Video Tour

It was 1818 when Hipolito Douchard, an Argentinian pirate, sailed into the cove at Dana Point.

From there, they raided the nearby San Juan Capistrano Mission founded in 1776 by Father Junipero Serra.

Richard Henry Dana, Jr. (1815-1882), sailed around South America's Cape Horn to San Francisco.

When the ship anchored at the cove, they traded cowhides with the natives. He later published "Two Years Before the Mast" in 1840 about his sea experience.

In the 1920s and 1930's development slowly began. Construction on the Dana Point Harbor began in the late 1960's.

Over two million visitors came to the harbor each year for shopping, dining and recreational activities.

Read more about the history behind Dana Point, Californa from the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce.