The Anza Expedition and Spanish Colonization of Alta California, 1769-1776

Part I: Elusive Ports

Tuesday January 27 at 6:30 pm, Presenter:  Donald Bastin

The strange and unlikely story of the search for the harbors of Monterey and San Francisco and the founding of the Mission and Presidio of San Francisco 1769-1776.

For 250 years, the Spanish crown had virtually ignored its claimed holdings in Upper California, and may have continued in this attitude had it not been for a confluence of factors which led, in 1768, to the planning of a series of expeditions of discovery in this mostly uncharted territory. This is the story of that effort, full of hardship, disappointment, and surprise, including a harbor that could not be found, and the fateful and unexpected discovery of a magnificent bay which, strangely, already bore the name of the patron saint of the Franciscan order.

This is not a celebration of the Spanish occupation of Upper California. But that event is part of our history, and it is important that we know that history, just as it is important that we know and understand the history of the birth of our country, with all its warts and imperfections.