While America was fighting for independence in 1776, Spain was focused on securing its control of California. By the 1770s, the Spanish had been established in the New World for more than 200 years. Their empire included present-day western United States, Florida, and the Philippine Islands. Seeking to secure the Pacific Coast, expeditions led by Gaspar de Portolá in 1769 and 1771 established small settlements in Alta (Upper) California. By 1773, there were two presidios (fortified military settlements) and five missions.
Settlement and resupply of Alta California proved challenging. The small ships capable of making the arduous voyage from San Blas, Mexico, could carry only limited cargo and few passengers. They could not transport cattle in significant numbers. Meanwhile, the overland route through Baja California was treacherous and difficult to supply. To strengthen their hold on Alta California, Spanish authorities sought a new overland route originating in the Mexican province of Sonora.
This need prompted Juan Bautista de Anza and others to pursue the opening of such a route. Anza was captain of the Royal Presidio at Tubac, Sonora, located in present-day southern Arizona. In 1774, he demonstrated that an overland route was possible by financing and leading his own successful exploratory expedition. Along the way, he charted watering holes and grazing areas and established relationships with Native tribes. His goal was to return with settlers and livestock.
In 1775, the Viceroy of New Spain authorized Anza to lead an expedition escorting soldiers and their families to occupy and settle the port of San Francisco. Anza recruited volunteers in the city of Culiacán, many of whom were poor and willing to endure the hardships of a long journey for the opportunity to begin a new life. Recruits assembled at the Presidio of San Miguel de Horcasitas, Sonora's provincial capital.
Accompanying Anza were Lieutenant José Joaquín Moraga and Friar Pedro Font, a Franciscan missionary selected as expedition chaplain because of his ability to determine latitude and record observations.
The expedition's final staging area was Tubac. More than 240 people departed from there on Oct. 23, 1775. The first night of the journey brought its only death en route when María Manuela Piñuelas died from complications following childbirth. Her newborn son survived. Two additional babies were born during the expedition, bringing the total number of settlers to 198. More than half were children 12 years old and younger.
The expedition followed the Santa Cruz River to its junction with the Gila River. As the route crossed the deserts and sand dunes of southeastern California, conditions became increasingly difficult. To better manage scarce water and forage during one of the coldest winters on record, Anza divided the travelers into three groups, each departing a day apart to allow water holes time to replenish. The groups reunited near what is now Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in present-day San Diego County.
On Christmas Eve, the expedition celebrated another birth. On Jan. 4, 1776, the travelers arrived at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. From there, they followed established trails through Native villages along California's coast. The group visited Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and, in March 1776, passed through the area that would later become Paso Robles while traveling to Mission San Antonio de Padua.
The expedition reached Monterey and nearby Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo on March 10, 1776. Anza then led a smaller party north to explore San Francisco Bay, where he selected sites for both a presidio and a mission.
Anza departed Monterey for Mexico City on April 14, 1776, and was later appointed governor of New Mexico. In June, Lieutenant Moraga guided the settlers from Monterey to San Francisco Bay, where they established the presidio and founded the mission, laying the foundation for what would become the city of San Francisco.
