Spanish Galleon
Call me, Ishmael
I've been wandering again in my reading. I took Starr back to the library, and renewed Bancroft, but set him aside, and picked up another book recommended to me: Over the…
Point Pinos Lighthouse
Where is Monterey?
As we discussed last time, in 1769 Spanish explorers were charged with establishing a mission and presidio in both San Diego and Monterey. San Diego, apparently, was easy to find.…
Map of California circa 1650
Offending God, the king, and the country
Continuing on in the early history of Spanish exploration in California . . . After a few excursions by sea between 1542-43 (Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo) and 1602-03 (Sebastian Vizcaino), the…
“California”
Kevin Starr agrees with HH Bancroft that the name "California" comes from a 16th century Spanish novel. Indeed, after explaining how in 1862 Edward H. Hale (author of "The Man…
California History
Last year I spent a lot of time researching California's El Camino Real. I was trying to discover the original route, hoping to retrace it on a bike ride with…