Articles - Early California Resource Center

California, Mexico and the Far East: Part 2

By Damian Bacich

The interview uncovers complexities in Pacific trade routes, challenging conventional narratives about the Spanish Empire’s trade. It focuses on San Blas, a naval base in New Spain, which caused discontent among Mexico City merchants.

Dr. Duggan explains how the Spanish Crown aimed to weaken the Mexico City merchants by granting San Blas more autonomy, turning it into an international port. They discuss contraband trade, where some, like ship captains, engaged in secret trading for extra income. Finally, we discuss the fascinating figure of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Cuadra and his exploration of the northern coast, as well as his interactions with native people.

If you would like to watch the interview, you can see it on YouTube: YouTube.com/@califrontier.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:32 — 35.1MB)

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California, Mexico and the Far East: Pt. 1

By Damian Bacich

Dr. Marie Christine Duggan is a Professor of Business Management at Keene State University, which gives her a unique approach to the history of New Spain, and especially the Pacific coast. In Part 1, we talk how trade between Mexico and the … [Continue reading]

300,000 Bricks, pt. 2

By Damian Bacich

In this episode, I finish my conversation with Dr. Jarrell Jackman. He gives us some insight into his personal journey, the obstacles that had to be overcome and the future of Santa Barbara's presidio. … [Continue reading]

300,000 Adobe Bricks: Santa Barbara’s Royal Presidio, pt. 1

By Damian Bacich

Damian and his guest Dr. Jarrell Jackman discuss Dr. Jackman's new book on Santa Barbara's Royal Presidio. Jarrell was employed by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation for 35 years, serving as Projects Administrator and CEO. He has … [Continue reading]

Three Californianas You Should Know

By Damian Bacich

The early history of California is made up of many remarkable women. Fortunately, some of them left behind stories that give us important glimpses into life in frontier times. The three women below all lived in San Diego, but their lives took … [Continue reading]

Mission San Francisco Solano: 10 Interesting Facts

By Damian Bacich

2023 marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of Mission San Francisco Solano. Nestled in the Valley of the Moon, in the heart of California’s wine country, the mission is an unmistakable landmark. The simple 2,400-square-foot church … [Continue reading]

The Rise and Fall of Captain Folsom

By Damian Bacich

During his short life, William Alexander Leidesdorff accumulated great wealth. Yet, what happened to his wealth after he died is a story in itself. The Aftermath of Leidesdorff's Death In addition to his riches, Leidesdorff left many debts. … [Continue reading]

San Francisco’s Overlooked Pioneer: William Alexander Leidesdorff

By Damian Bacich

William Alexander Leidesdorff

Although little known today, the name of William Alexander Leidesdorff is enshrined on streets in San Francisco and a town along the American River. He was also one of California’s pioneers of African descent and instrumental in bringing about the … [Continue reading]

The Luiseño of Southern California

By Damian Bacich

Luiseño leaders at Pala in the 1880s

The Luiseño people are an indigenous group of coastal Southern California with a unique language and culture. The introduction of the mission introduced major changes into Luiseño life, including a new religion (Christianity) and the adoption … [Continue reading]

Routes to Mexican California

By Damian Bacich

In the early decades of the nineteenth century, growing numbers of people came to Alta California. The routes they took and the lives they established changed the history of the region. Immigration by Sea After independence from Spain, the … [Continue reading]

The Legend of Chief Solano

By Damian Bacich

“He was of gigantic stature, standing six feet seven inches–without his stockings, for he had none. And he was large all over in proportion, with the strength of several men. His name by baptism was Francisco Solano, and by that name he was best … [Continue reading]

Todavía Estamos Aquí (We are Still Here)

By Damian Bacich

246 years ago a group of some two hundred people arrived at the Presidio of San Francisco after an arduous trek from Tubac in what is today southern Arizona. They were led by the intrepid frontier officer Juan Bautista de Anza, who had made an … [Continue reading]

How We Almost Lost El Camino Real (and the Women Who Saved It)

By Damian Bacich

Imagine California with no landmarks from before 1848, and no structures dating to the Spanish and Mexican periods. How different might the state be? Were it not for the efforts of some women determined to stop the erasure of the past, that might … [Continue reading]

“The Americanos Played for Keeps”

By Damian Bacich

The Battle of San Pascual

In his memoirs about life in rancho era California, José Jesús López describes how his father joined the "California Army": … [Continue reading]

Bad for the Lungs but Wonderful for Memories

By Damian Bacich

In a previous post I shared some recollections of José Jesús López, a legendary vaquero of Rancho El Tejón in Kern County. Don José was born in 1852 in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, what was then called "El Paredón Blanco." … [Continue reading]

Life in Rancho Era Los Angeles: Hardships and Joys

By Damian Bacich

What was life like in California's Rancho period? Some have portrayed it as an idyllic time. They imagine young señores and señoritas lounging around on the porches of their tile-roofed haciendas. But first-hand accounts often tell a rougher story. … [Continue reading]

The Forgotten Lives of a California Adobe

By Damian Bacich

Preserving historical landmarks means more than just saving old buildings. It often means preserving the link to the lives lived there. For decades California's historic rancho adobes have been disappearing from the landscape. For example, in the … [Continue reading]

Tiburcio Vásquez and Vaquero Vengeance

By Damian Bacich

Shortly after the end of the Mexican-American War, William Rich Hutton recalled visiting Doña Angustias de la Guerra Jimeno in Monterey as a twenty-one-year-old volunteer with the U.S. occupation troops. … [Continue reading]

The Castaway of Whalers Cove

By Damian Bacich

After coming to Mexican California in 1822 on a whaling ship, Englishman William Richardson decided to stay. He married María Antonia Martínez, the daughter of Presidio Commander Ygnacio Martínez (after whom the city of Martinez is named). As … [Continue reading]

The Bear Flag Revolt: California’s Insurgency

By Damian Bacich

The Bear Flag Revolt is one of the central episodes in the events leading to the U.S. annexation of California. In June of 1846, a group of Americans took over the Mexican Pueblo of Sonoma and declared a new "California Republic." This is the … [Continue reading]

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