Cape Mesurado

Cape Mesurado is a coastal headland at the mouth of the Mesurado River on Liberia’s Atlantic coast, located within the urban area of the capital, Monrovia. It is historically significant as the place where the settlement that became Monrovia was established in 1822.

The headland fronts Monrovia’s port and city waterfront; there are coastal views over the river mouth and shipping approaches rather than developed tourist facilities. Nearby city streets, beaches and harbor infrastructure are the main features people see when visiting the area.

The cape became the focus for settlement and colonial activity in the early 19th century when colonists established a foothold on land purchased at the river mouth. Over time that settlement expanded inland and developed into the modern city of Monrovia.

Geographically it sits on the Atlantic shoreline in Montserrado County within the built-up area of Monrovia, beside the Mesurado River and adjacent to the city’s port and downtown districts.

• Urban location: Sits immediately adjacent to the central district of Monrovia and is effectively part of the city waterfront.
• Founding site: Site where the colony that became Monrovia was established in 1822 by settlers organized by the American Colonization Society.