Early California Resource Center

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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.

Filed Under: 4th Grade, Californios, Hispanic Heritage, Mexican Rule, Women in California History Tagged With: Apolinara Lorenzana, Californios, Daily Lives (Standard 5), Josefa Carrillo, Juana Machado, San Diego, women

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.

Filed Under: Californios, European Settlements, Hispanic Heritage, Spanish Exploration and Colonization

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.

Filed Under: Californios, Field Trips, Hispanic Heritage, Mexican Rule Tagged With: Daily Lives (Standard 5)

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.

Filed Under: Californios, Mexican Rule Tagged With: Bear Flag, Frémont, Ide, Mexican-American War, Osos, Sonoma

Rebuilding a Presidio: Interview with Jarrell Jackman

By Damian Bacich

Soldiers and presidios played a key role in establishing the Spanish presence in California, but they are still misunderstood. Jarrell Jackman has been at the forefront of preserving and documenting this crucial element of the California frontier. Jarrell C. Jackman Dr. Jarrell C. Jackman was Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation for […]

Filed Under: Californios, European Settlements, Hispanic Heritage, Podcast Episodes, Soldiers and Presidios, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Santa Barbara

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.

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

Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo: General of the Northern Frontier

By Damian Bacich

Military commander, town founder, politician, patriarch. Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was arguably the most powerful man in northern Alta California. After the American takeover, he helped form the new state and fought to preserve the history of Spanish and Mexican California.

Filed Under: Californios, Hispanic Heritage, Mexican Rule, Soldiers and Presidios Tagged With: Benicia, Chief Solano, Sonoma, Vallejo

Grit and Grace on the Golden Gate: The Unforgettable Juana Briones

By Damian Bacich

Juana Briones lived in Spanish, Mexican and U.S. California and she left her mark on all three. Now she is receiving the attention she deserves.

Filed Under: Californios, Daily Lives, European Settlements, Hispanic Heritage, Resources, Soldiers and Presidios, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Juana Briones, women

The Anza Expedition of 1775-76: Members and Their Families

By Damian Bacich

In January of 1776, Juan Bautista de Anza arrived in Alta California with just over 200 men, women and children from Tubac in today’s Arizona.

Filed Under: Californios, European Settlements, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Felipe de Neve, Juan Bautista de Anza, Los Californianos, pobladores, soldados, Tubac, vecinos

The Castro Adobe: A Californio Landmark Restored

By Damian Bacich

The Castro Adobe: A Californio Landmark Restored

If you want to see a precious California landmark in the process of being saved for future generations, mark your calendar to visit the Joaquín Castro Adobe near Watsonville.

Filed Under: Californios, Daily Lives, Field Trips Tagged With: Adobes, Californios, Castro Adobe, Santa Cruz County, Watsonville

Settlers on the California Frontier (Part 2): The Californios

By Damian Bacich

What type of culture developed among settlers in Alta California? What did they call themselves? How did they live under Mexico and Spain? And how did they respond to American rule?

Filed Under: Californios, Daily Lives, European Settlements, Mexican Rule, Mexican War for Independence, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Californios, Daily Lives (Standard 5), U.S.-Mexico War

Settlers on the California Frontier (Part 1)

By Damian Bacich

Who settled California? What was their life like? What were the first towns?

Filed Under: Californios, Daily Lives, European Settlements, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Anza, Branciforte, Californios, Daily lives, Frontier, Hijar-Padrés, King Carlos III, Los Angeles, Pueblos, San Francisco

Researching the Early Days: The Sylveria Pacheco Project, Part 2

By Damian Bacich

An update on an ongoing research project into the life of a Hispanic woman on the California frontier. In May, I told you about my research into the life of Sylveria Pacheco, a Californiana who had lived through Spanish, Mexican and American periods. I came across Sylveria as I was working on another project, and […]

Filed Under: Californios Tagged With: Californios, Pacheco

Researching the Early Days: The Sylveria Pacheco Project (Part 1)

By Damian Bacich

What happens when a project starts out as a footnote, and then takes on a life of its own? Over the upcoming weeks and months I’ll share my research journey.

Filed Under: Californios Tagged With: Mission Santa Clara, research, women

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

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