At one time, Capistrano Bay was the only natural bay between San Diego and Santa Barbara. That made it a natural stopping off point for sailing ships who wanted to trade with the mission's padres and local ranchos. The vessels braved the stormy waters off Cape Horn to sail to and from New England.
This 9-foot bronze statue was erected to honor the man who helped make Capistrano Bay famous. The status is located on Island Way and Dana Drive on Dana Island.
To this day, Dana's "Two Years Before the Mast" describing his journey to California and the steep cliffs of Capistrano, remains a popular book.