The California Frontier Project

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The Levitating Cross at Monterey and the Beginnings of California

By Damian Bacich

The California frontier is full of reports of the marvelous or miraculous events that defy scientific explanation. Historian Skyler Reidy has been investigating curious stories of the mission era, and he helps us make sense of them. Skyler … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Podcast Episodes, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Crespí, Junipero Serra, Mission San Antonio de Padua, Monterey, Portolá

California Missions: 50 Interesting Facts

By Damian Bacich

The California missions are home to fascinating stories and interesting facts. The following is a list 50 things you might not know about the missions-- but there are many more to discover. Pirate Raid In 1818, a … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Franciscans, Hispanic Heritage, Resources, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Chumash, Gen. Mariano G. Vallejo, Hipólito Bouchard, Mission San Diego de Alcala, mission san fernando, Mission San Francisco Solano, Mission San Juan Bautista, mission san juan capistrano, Mission San Luis Obispo, Mission San Miguel, Mission Santa Clara, Pirates

Native Knowledge in Colonial Latin America: Interview with Ezekiel Stear (Part 2)

By Damian Bacich

As the Spanish Empire become more consolidated, language and writing became more and more important -- both for the Spanish government and for native peoples. In part 2 of this interview we learn how indigenous people in Colonial Spanish America … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Hispanic Heritage, Podcast Episodes, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Aztecs, Inquisition, Mexico, Peru

Aztec Memories and the Florentine Codex: Interview with Ezekiel Stear (Part 1)

By Damian Bacich

The story of the Spanish missions in California has its roots in 16th century Mexico. There, Franciscan friars and their native partners sought to record the memories of Aztec elders before their culture was changed forever. The information they … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Catholicism, Franciscans, Hispanic Heritage, Native Americans, Podcast Episodes, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Auburn University, Aztecs, Florentine Codex

Indian Life at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel

By Damian Bacich

What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel? What did they eat? What jobs did they do? An introduction to life at Alta California's 4th Spanish Mission. Who Founded Mission San Gabriel? Mission San Gabriel Arcángel … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: California Indians, Daily Lives, Native Americans, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Gabrielino, Interrogatorio, Mission San Gabriel, Pedro Benito Cambón, Somera, Tongva

“Follow the Money”: Interview with Marie Christine Duggan (Part 2)

By Damian Bacich

In this second part of the interview we learn about what studying economic history can reveal about the past. In particular, we learn about California's early connections to the Far East, and how competition over the fur trade created some unusual … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Early Land and Sea Routes, Native Americans, Podcast Episodes, Resources, Soldiers and Presidios, Spain, Spanish Exploration and Colonization, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Chumash, José de la Guerra y Noriega, Manila Galleon, Mission Dolores, Mission San Luis Obispo, Otter Trade, Philipines

Missions and Misconceptions: Interview with Marie Christine Duggan (Part 1)

By Damian Bacich

The story of the Spanish missions in California isn't always what it seems. By delving into Mexico's National Archives, Dr. Marie Christine Duggan uncovered facts that provide a unique inside view of mission life. From murder trials to Indian … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: California Indians, Daily Lives, Franciscans, Native Americans, Podcast Episodes, Soldiers and Presidios, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Blacksmiths, Chumash, Militias, Vaqueros

Land Grants in Alta California

By Damian Bacich

The story of land ownership in modern California begins with the practice of Spanish land grants. Beginning in the 18th century, Spain allowed farming and ranching by private individuals in California. In the 19th century the Mexican government … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: European Settlements, Hispanic Heritage, Podcast Episodes, Resources, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: California Land Act, Laws of Indies, Presidios, Pueblos, Ranchos, Secularization, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Early Exploration of California (Part 1 of 2)

By Damian Bacich

Why did Spanish Explorers Come to California? Spanish mariners began exploring the Pacific coast of North America in the early 16th century in hopes of finding new civilizations to join their empire. … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Early Land and Sea Routes, Podcast Episodes, Spain, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Balboa, Cabrillo, Cortez, Drake, Ulloa, Vizcaíno

How did California Get its Name? You Might be Surprised

By Damian Bacich

How did California Get its Name

The name "California" comes from a 16th century Spanish novel that involves a warrior queen named Calafia. But the name also has much deeper roots that connect North African pirates and a medieval epic poem. … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Podcast Episodes, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Calafia, California, Cervantes, Don Quixote, Song of Roland

California Frontier Podcast: Welcome to Season 2

By Damian Bacich

The California Frontier Podcast is back! Our first season was short -- interviews with journalist and travel writer Maggie Espinosa about her pilgrimage to all 21 of the Spanish missions in California, and with Greg Bernal Smestad about his quest to … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Podcast Episodes, Resources

The Mexican-American War

By Damian Bacich

Mexico before Texas Independence

The Mexican-American War (or the U.S. - Mexico War) was the conflict that took place between 1846 and 1848 and caused Mexico to lose close to half of its territory and the U.S. to acquire what is today Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Hispanic Heritage, Mexican Rule Tagged With: Cahuenga, Gen. Mariano G. Vallejo, Mexico, San Pascual, U.S.-Mexico War

Native Americans of Southern California: the Kumeyaay

By Damian Bacich

The Kumeyaay are indigenous people who live on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, in southwestern California and northwestern Baja California. They traditionally spoke languages related to each other, and many were connected to Mission San … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: California Indians, Native Americans Tagged With: Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, Kumeyaay, Mission San Diego de Alcala, Portolá, San Diego

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo: California’s First Tourist

By Damian Bacich

What did Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo do and why is he important? Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo is best known for being the first European to successfully navigate the Pacific coast of what is today California to points north of the San Francisco Bay. During … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Early Land and Sea Routes, Hispanic Heritage, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Channel Islands, Chumash, Kumeyaay, Point Reyes, Rodriguez Cabrillo, San Diego, San Salvador, Strait of Anián

Ranchos in California: The Spanish and Mexican Eras

By Damian Bacich

For many years ranchos defined the early California lifestyle. Their impact remains with us today. … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Californios, Hispanic Heritage, Mexican Rule Tagged With: Andrés Pico, Domínguez, Gen. Mariano G. Vallejo, Monterey, Pío Pico, Rancho Camulos, Vaqueros

9 Ways the Missions Impacted California

By Damian Bacich

How did the Missions Affect California? Much of the culture of California has its roots in the history of the Spanish missions. And although the missions were only fully active for about 60 years, their presence had a major impact on many areas of … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: 4th Grade, Hispanic Heritage, Spanish Missions Tagged With: agriculture, art, cities, ethnography, irrigation, libraries, Mission San Carlos Borromeo, Music, place names, San Luis Obispo, tourism, trade, wine

Native American Life at Mission San Diego de Alcalá

By Damian Bacich

What was daily life like for Native Americans at Mission San Diego de Alcalá? What did they eat? What jobs did they do? An introduction to life at Alta California’s 1st Spanish Mission. Who Founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá and When Was It … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Hispanic Heritage, Native Americans, Spanish Missions

Why Did Native Americans Come to the California Missions?

By Damian Bacich

Why Did Native Americans Come to the Missions?

Native Americans came to the California missions for a variety of reasons. Some of these were: protection from their enemies, access to stable food sources, attraction to Spanish culture and religion, fear of Spanish weapons and a desire to stay … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: California Indians, Indians featured, Native Americans, Resources, Spanish Missions Tagged With: Native Americans, spanish missions

How Did the California Missions End?

By Damian Bacich

Mission Secularization

The California missions ended after Mexico became independent of Spain. The newly independent Mexican government eventually passed laws that called for an end to the mission system through a process called “secularization.”  Secularization: … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: Mexican Rule, Spanish Missions Tagged With: El Camino Real, Mission San Diego de Alcala, Mission Santa Bárbara, Secularization

Native Americans of the California Coast: The Chumash

By Damian Bacich

The Chumash are a widespread group of California native people who lived along the southern California coast and the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. … [Continue reading]

Filed Under: California Indians, Native Americans, Resources Tagged With: Channel Islands, Mission La Purisima, pictograph, rock art, San Buenaventura, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, tomol

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I’m Dr. Damian Bacich, and I started the California Frontier Project. Learn more about me and the project here.

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