Rededication coincides with Early Days events June 16
During the late 18th century, Spanish colonists had
well-established routes along the California coast. The explorers
had yet to establish a feasible route to move settlers, livestock
and supplies up from Sonora to Northern California over land. In
1774, Juan Bautista de Anza set out with a small expedition to
explore a route that would eventually stretch from the Port of San
Francisco to Culiac
án, Mexico.
Rededication coincides with Early Days events June 16
During the late 18th century, Spanish colonists had well-established routes along the California coast. The explorers had yet to establish a feasible route to move settlers, livestock and supplies up from Sonora to Northern California over land. In 1774, Juan Bautista de Anza set out with a small expedition to explore a route that would eventually stretch from the Port of San Francisco to Culiacán, Mexico.
“This site is very good, with fine lands and plentiful water from the river which runs through this valley…” wrote one of the explorers, Father Pedro Font, on March 6, 1776, as they came close to the future home of Mission San Antonio. “In the range there is a great abundance of oaks, live oaks and pines…”
Today remnants of the trail stretch from San Francisco through Arizona to Nogales in Mexico, with 640 miles of the trail beyond the United States border. Parts of the trail are accessible by car, but some, such as the portion in San Juan Bautista, are only accessible by foot or on horseback.
Residents of San Juan and the National Park Service will be celebrating the expedition’s stop in San Juan Bautista June 16 with a rededication ceremony of the local section of the trail. The dedication will begin at 9 a.m. with a short guided hike and will include reenactments by two troops. Los Soldados, a group from the Santa Barbara Spanish Presidio, will dress as Spanish soldiers from the 1700s and will do a 21 gun salute. The Amigos de Anza will also be portraying the equestrian explorers who set out along the trail for the ceremony.
The same day, visitors can learn even more about San Juan history at the San Juan Historic Park as the staff celebrates Early Days from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include volunteers dressed in period costumes and demonstrations of how life was back then. Admission is $2 for adults, free for children under 16.
That evening at the Plaza Hall the History Association will host a Victorian Ball at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 at the door. Victorian Dress is not required.
For more information on the rededication of the Anza trail, call 623-2454. For information on Early Days, call 623-4881. For information on the Victorian Ball, call 902-0728.
