The California Frontier Project

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Juan Bautista de Anza: Son of the Frontier

By Damian Bacich

Juan Bautista de Anza was a military officer, governor, explorer and diplomat. His life had an enormous impact on the history of California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico, as well as Northern Mexico.

Filed Under: 4th Grade, European Settlements, Hispanic Heritage

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

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 continued and expanded the program. Land Laws in Spain The laws and customs about who could own […]

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

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

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

Soldiers and Presidios in Alta California (with video)

By Damian Bacich

Who were the soldiers that came to Alta California? What was their life like? What were the presidios and what was their role on the frontier?

Filed Under: European Settlements, Soldiers and Presidios, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Anza, leatherjacket, Military, Monterey, Presidios, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, solados de cuera, Soldiers, Sonoma

Podcast Episode 002 — “You Have to Carry This On”: What it Means to Be a Californio

By Damian Bacich

What it Means to be a Californio

In this episode, I speak with Greg Bernal-Mendoza Smestad, a direct descendant of the families who settled Alta California over 200 years ago.  Greg talks to us about their journey, the character of those people who risked their lives to come to come north, and the legacy they passed on.

Filed Under: Daily Lives, European Settlements, Podcast Episodes, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Anza, Bay Area, Californios, genealogy, living history, National Park Service, San José

Beyond Clichés

By Damian Bacich

  Recently I began recording a series of interviews for a new podcast I will be launching as part of California Frontier. For one of the first interviews, I had the pleasure of visiting Greg Bernal Smestad. Greg has made it his mission to preserve and maintain the heritage his ancestors, who came to California […]

Filed Under: European Settlements, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Anza, Californios, Virgin of Guadalupe

Exploration and Settlement of California (Part 2 of 2)

By Damian Bacich

Juan Bautista de Anza

For most of the 17th and 18th centuries, Spanish ships dominated the Pacific. But her rivals Russia and England were busy contesting that dominance. Who would be the first to settle California?

Filed Under: Early Land and Sea Routes, European Settlements, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Anza, Bering, Cook, Gálvez, Junipero Serra, Portolá

Happy Birthday San José

By Damian Bacich

The Pueblo of San José, founded in 1777.

San José, California is the oldest city on the West Coast. In November it celebrates its birthday.

Filed Under: European Settlements, Field Trips, Spanish Exploration and Colonization Tagged With: Californios, San José

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

Teaching Materials for the Whole Year

Alta California Tees and More

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