Broderick-Terry Duel Site

You are standing at the site of what historians call the last notable duel in American history. On the morning of September 13, 1859, this secluded ravine hosted a fatal confrontation between United States Senator David Broderick and the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, David Terry. The two men were once political allies, but their friendship collapsed under the weight of the nation's growing divide over slavery. While Broderick stood as a leader of the anti-slavery movement in California, Terry was an outspoken advocate for the expansion of slavery into the state. Their disagreement turned into a lethal feud, ultimately leading them to this exact spot to settle their differences with Belgian pistols.