El Camino Real de California
El Camino Real de California
From Ancient Pathways to Modern Byways
The arrival of Spaniards in 1769 served as a defining moment for California's future. They described the First Peoples and their cultures and provided a window into the evolution of California's Camino Real. In an effort to establish the Camino Real de California as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Joseph P. Sánchez explores the rich history of the path running from San Diego to San Francisco in this significant study. While records capture the stories and legends of the Camino Real there is little information on the exact ground route. Sánchez utilizes historical and archaeological literature and the documentation from Spanish and Mexican archives to begin the much-needed process of authentication of this braided corridor to further establish the Camino Real de California's integrity and valuable history, which is shared with Spain, Mexico, and Native American tribes. Their story is part of the patrimony of the Camino Real de California, which ought to be authenticated, preserved, and protected for future generations to enjoy.
A meticulously researched monograph.'--Félix D. Almaráz, Jr., Catholic Southwest
Joseph P. Sánchez is the director of the Spanish Colonial Research Center at the University of New Mexico. After thirty-five years, he retired from the National Park Service in 2014. He has published studies on historic trails including the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the Camino Real de los Tejas, and the Old Spanish Trail. He has taught at the University of New Mexico, the University of Arizona, Santa Ana College in California, and the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara.
Preface
Chapter One. "Doing the King's Business" on El Camino Real de California: An Introduction
Chapter Two. Early Spanish Maritime Views of the California Coast
Chapter Three. The Origins of the Camino Real: The Maritime and Land Expeditions of 1769 from Baja California Sur to Alta California
Chapter Four. Portolá's Expedition and the Establishment of Alta California, Part I: From San Diego Bay to the Santa Bárbara Channel and the Santa Inéz River, July through August, 1769
Chapter Five. Portolá's Expedition and the Establishment of Alta California, Part II: The Search for Monterey Bay--From the Sierra de Santa Lucía to San Francisco Bay, September to November 1769
Chapter Six. Portolá's Expedition and the Establishment of Alta California, Part III: The Expedition Returns to San Diego--November 1769 to January 1770
Chapter Seven. Missions and Ranchos in Spanish Colonial and Mexican Territorial Alta California
Epilogue
Appendix A. Identification of Presidios and Royal Presidio Ranchos
Appendix B. The Missions of Alta California
Appendix C. The Missions of Baja California and the Early Camino Real de California
Appendix D. "The King's Highway as Serra Knew It": Father Geiger and California's Camino Real de las Misiones
Appendix E. Selected and Edited List of Land Grants in California, 1784-1848, Potentially Related to the Camino Real de California
Appendix F. Examples of Maritime Lanes Used to Alta California
Appendix G. The Camino Real de las Californias: The Land Route from Baja California to San Diego in 1769
Appendix H. Summary of Fray Juan de Crespí's Diary Entry Locations by Date, and Notations by H. E. Bolton
Notes
Bibliography
Index
