California Explorers

Sir Francis Drake

Gallery Walk

Drake

Drake

Drake

Drake

Drake

Drake

I sailed on the backside of

America to 43 degrees Northerly
latitude. . . and (stopped) at a fair
and good bay . . . calling this
country Nova Albion and setting
up a monument of our being
there, as also of her Majesty's
right and title to the same.
--Sir Frances Drake, 1579

Drake

Drake

Drake

California Explorers
Cabrillo
Gallery Walk

Cabrillo

Cabrillo

Cabrillo

Cabrillo

very well settledFine canoes

each holding twelve or thirteen
Indians came to the ships.. They
have round houses, well covered to
the ground. They wear skins of many
different animals; eat acorns and a
white seed the size of maize which is
used to make tamales [probably the
kernels or pits of the Holly-leaved
Cherry, or Islay.] They live well.
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Journal, 1542
Referring to the Santa Barbara Coastal
Region

--

Cabrillo

California Explorers
Vizcaino
Gallery Walk

Vizcaino

Vizcaino

Vizcaino

We arrived at Monterey in the evening. The

next day the men landed. Mass having
been said and the day having cleared
(there having been much fog) we found
ourselves to be in the best port that could
be desired. Besides being sheltered from
all the winds, it has many pines for masts
and yards, and live oaks and white oaks,
and water in great quantity, all near the
shore.
--Sebastin Vizcano, 1602

Vizcaino

"A canoe came out to us with two Indian

fishermen, who had a great quantity of
fish, rowing so swiftly that they seemed to
fly . . . After they had gone five Indians
came out in another canoe, so well
constructed and built that since Noah's Ark
a finer and lighter vessel with timbers
better made has not been seen. Four men
rowed, with an old man in the center
singing . . . and the others responding to
him."

--Sebastian Vizcainos Journal, 1602

Vizcaino

The women are very beautiful and

virtuous, the children are fair and
blonde and very merry. . . . The
(men) go to sea in (canoes) with
fourteen paddlemen of a side,
with great dexterityeven in very
stormy weather (moving so fast)
that they seemed to fly.
--Vizcano expedition to Santa Catalina Islands, November 1602

California Explorers
Portola
Gallery Walk

Portola

Portola

Portola

Portola

. . .it would be most important to

undertake an entry or search by land
from the missions (and go) to the north
of California . . .and in this (way) aid
greatly the founding of a presidio and
settlement at that place which is truly
the most advantages for protecting the
entire west coast of California . .
.against any attempts by the Russians
or any northern nation.
--Jose de Galvez to the Marques de Grimaldi, May 1768