Broderick-Terry Duel Site

Awesome to see the site of the legendary duel. However there’s no other exploring to be had.

After reading some of these reviews I noticed that there’s a problem with finding The Dueling Site. Many of these reviewers have entered from the San Francisco side into a private residence parking area, and yes you can be towed! The best way to get to the Dueling Site Is to enter from the Daly City side. Simply drive to the Westlake Shopping Center. At the north east Corner of the shopping center (Nation’s Burgers) Head north on Cliffside Drive for about a ¼ mile, take the first left turn on El Portal Way. The entrance to the park is about 200 feet to your right.
There’s a few picnic tables on a lawn next to the monument and the actual dueling markers are east down a walkway about 75 yards. Note: There are no facilities in this park.

I first discovered this place by accident when I was a resident in Daly City from in 1969. I was fascinated by the fact that the last duel fought in the west took place at this spot in 1859. I now live in the northwest and on a recent trip to the Bay Area, I rediscovered the duel site and remain as fascinated as ever. If you are a student of American History, it is well worth the effort to seek out and enjoy this historical gem.
Note: When you find the historical plaque, go through the fence into the wooded area and you come to a second historical marker (an obelisk) then flow the trail to the duel site.

I feel bad for rating a place where someone died with only two stars… but it’s really underwhelming! There’s basically a tombstone looking thing… that’s it.
It would be especially underwhelming if I didn’t know anything about the place, but Roxmari G tells the story well. I was told that this is where the last duel in California was held… I have no idea if this is true.
It’s really hard to spot the signs for this place. We ended up asking the security guard of gated area where we were made a wrong turn. If you pass the tennis courts, then you are going in the right direction.

Heading down Lake Merced Boulevard toward Daly City you may notice a sign which says «Broderick-​Terry Duel Site.» This is where Senator David Broderick was killed by David Terry in a duel on 9÷13÷1859.
From James O’Meara, on Broderick’s funeral:
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The obsequies were solemnized on Sunday, September 18^th, in a manner never before witnessed on any similar occasion… the whole fire department marched. The Society of California Pioneers attended in strong force. Other societies, citizens on foot, and more in a long line of carriages and every kind of vehicle, participated. The remains were entombed in Lone Mountain Cemetery. The day after the funeral the News closed an editorial with this remark:
«It is said that Napoleon should have died at Waterloo. Mr. Broderick died not on an inappropriate field. ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church’; and we mistake greatly, if the sacrifice of Mr. Broderick’s life will not be fruitful of revolutionary results in the popular mind.»
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I have to take issue with the «appropriateness of the field.» Who would throw away their illusritious political career over a duel with little guns in the 1800s? Can it be we actually have evolved in some way? Other than the sign, the way to the duel site is nearly invisible. Some friends and I tried to get to it by car and we finally had to give up after zooming past the little side road three times. I believe the Golden Gate Bridge is a historic site as well, and it’s far easier to find.