Morro Rock
A steadfast refuge to creatures great and small, Morro Rock symbolizes sanctuary, groundedness, the sense of our empowerment to overcome obstacles and the return of cherished things which might have once seemed lost.
“El Morro” was first named by the Spanish maritime explorer, Juan Rodriguez Castillo, when he saw it in 1542. But the Chumash and Salinan had been living around the rock since long before the Spanish explorers sited it. Both Native American tribes have been known to perform rituals on Morro Rock, including one prayer ritual by the Salinan that was said to ensure the return of the Sun after it had set.
In 1968 the rock was designated as a State Historical Landmark and since then, climbing the rock has been off limits to the public as it is a designated Peregrine Falcon sanctuary. The majestic raptors have nested on Morro Rock for centuries, and it was at one time one of the last remaining nesting sites in California when extensive use of DDT nearly drove the Falcons to extinction. Rehabilitation efforts since the ban of DDT have been successful in increasing Peregrine population once again, and it is now common to see the fastest animal in the world flying above the bay.