Original: June 3 & ndash ; Gasper de Portola and Father Junipero Serra establish Monterey , the presidio of Alta California territory for Spain from 1777 -- 1822 , United Mexican States 1824 -- 1846 , until the California Republic .
Simplified: June 3 - Gasper de Portola and Father Junipero Serra establish Monterey , which was the capital of California from 1777-1849 .