California, 250 years old

California ColonizedTwo hundred and fifty years ago, the Spanish-led ‘Sacred Expedition’ to establish forts and missions in what was then called Alta California headed north from the tip of Baja.The Russians are comingSpain had laid claim to territory in what would become California, Arizona and New Mexico more than 150 years before the “Sacred Expedition.” The Sebastian Vizcaino expedition in 1602 was ordered to find safe harbors in Alta California for Spanish ships returning from the Philippines. The Vizcaino expedition along the California coast gave many places the names they have today, including San Diego, Monterey and Santa Barbara. The Spanish did not pay much attention to Alta California until they heard the Russians were making settlements in what is now Washington and Oregon.

Spain begin developing the region in 1700 in response to the Russian invasion.