Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Join an Anza Trail park ranger at Tumacácori National Historical Park for a guided walk! 

-Meet at the mission church at 10 am
-Walk to the Santa Cruz River along the Anza Trail
-Return around 11:30 am

We'll be walking along the same route the Anza expedition followed 250 years ago! This is an easy trail but expect uneven and unpaved surfaces. It's a 1- to 2-mile roundtrip journey. Bring comfortable shoes, sun protection, water, and an interest in natural and cultural history!

1891 I-19 Frontage Rd, Tumacacori, AZ 85640

Two Special Anniversaries
One Unique Program

Join us on January 24th as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition and the 75th anniversary of CCCHS.

As the Declaration of Independence was being written, the Anza colonizing expedition arrived at its destination in San Francisco. Expedition members, 240 in total, included men, women, and children representing a mix of Indigenous, African, and European heritage. Their journey led them through parts of Contra Costa County.

Beverly Lane is a local history museum curator, author, California historian, and resident of San Ramon Valley. She also serves as a Director on the CCCHS Board.

Program Agenda:

Registration and Welcome Reception

Lunch and beverages served

Contra Costa County Historical Society Annual Review

CCCHS 75 years

Anza Expedition 250 presented by Beverly Lane

Raffle drawing and book sales

Part I: Elusive Ports

Tuesday January 27 at 6:30 pm, Presenter:  Donald Bastin

The strange and unlikely story of the search for the harbors of Monterey and San Francisco and the founding of the Mission and Presidio of San Francisco 1769-1776.

For 250 years, the Spanish crown had virtually ignored its claimed holdings in Upper California, and may have continued in this attitude had it not been for a confluence of factors which led, in 1768, to the planning of a series of expeditions of discovery in this mostly uncharted territory. This is the story of that effort, full of hardship, disappointment, and surprise, including a harbor that could not be found, and the fateful and unexpected discovery of a magnificent bay which, strangely, already bore the name of the patron saint of the Franciscan order.

This is not a celebration of the Spanish occupation of Upper California. But that event is part of our history, and it is important that we know that history, just as it is important that we know and understand the history of the birth of our country, with all its warts and imperfections. 

Part II: Joaquin Ysidro de Castro

Saturday January 31 at 1:00 pm, Presenter:  Roxy Miraválle

Pvt. Joaquin Ysidro de Castro, patriarch of Francisco Castro (grantee of Rancho San Pablo) and his ties to the Anza Expedition.

As the soldiers of Anza’s expedition were the founders and first settlers of Alta California, it becomes a matter of historical importance to know who they were. They left their imprint on the civilization of California, and their names are as familiar as household words to all who know the state’s history. One of these early pioneer soldiers was a recruit named Joaquín Ysidro de Castro, patriarch of the grantee of our own San Pablo rancho. Castro and the family which accompanied him on this expedition are among the founding settlers of the Presidio de San José, which were established as a result of this expedition.

For special accommodations, please give the library 72 hours notice. Light refreshments provided with the generous support of Friends of El Sobrante Library.

Almost 250 years ago, as the Declaration of Independence was signed on the East Coast, the Anza expedition arrived at its destination on the West Coast. Both of these events would dramatically shape the cultural and political landscapes of the United States.

Collaborating with the National Park Service, this exhibit recognizes the extraordinary achievements of the Anza expedition which travelled over Indigenous trails and brought the first Spanish families to settle in California. Anza located the San Francisco Presidio, established Mission Dolores and led an exploration of the East Bay.

Almost 250 years ago, as the Declaration of Independence was signed on the East Coast, the Anza expedition arrived at its destination on the West Coast. Both of these events would dramatically shape the cultural and political landscapes of the United States.

Collaborating with the National Park Service, this exhibit recognizes the extraordinary achievements of the Anza expedition which travelled over Indigenous trails and brought the first Spanish families to settle in California. Anza located the San Francisco Presidio, established Mission Dolores and led an exploration of the East Bay.

The exhibit commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Anza expedition by exploring both the expedition itself and the environment the settlers found when they arrived in Monterey. Panels discuss the founding of Monterey, early buildings and structures, the Anza expedition, and three Voyages of Discovery (La Perouse, Malaspina and Vancouver) that visited Monterey relatively soon after the settlers arrived. Reproductions of 22 drawings created by voyage artists provide a visual sense of place and time. An NPS Anza Trail poster will be displayed, and brochures and travel guides will be made available to visitors.

Almost 250 years ago, as the Declaration of Independence was signed on the East Coast, the Anza expedition arrived at its destination on the West Coast. Both of these events would dramatically shape the cultural and political landscapes of the United States.

Collaborating with the National Park Service, this exhibit recognizes the extraordinary achievements of the Anza expedition which travelled over Indigenous trails and brought the first Spanish families to settle in California. Anza located the San Francisco Presidio, established Mission Dolores and led an exploration of the East Bay.

Join the Trails Council for a five-mile living heritage trail hike from Rincon Beach County Park to Santa Claus Lane on February 22, 2026.

Walk in the footsteps of history as you follow ancient Chumash trading routes later traveled by the Anza expedition. In 1775–1776, Juan Bautista de Anza led 240 migrants—including families with women and children—northward toward the San Francisco Bay Area and camped near present-day Rincon Point at a site known to the expedition as La Rinconada, in proximity to the established Chumash village of Mishopshnow, within an area the expedition referred to as La Carpintería; a journey now observed as a National Historic Trail.

The Anza expedition arrived at Rincon Point on February 24, 1776—almost exactly 250 years before this commemorative hike. Father Pedro Font’s diary brings the scene to life: a stunning coastal landscape, whale spouts rising offshore, and the remarkable Chumash people whose masterful craftsmanship, maritime prowess, and vibrant community left him awestruck.

We will meet at Rincon Beach County Park at 10 am and walk five miles to Santa Claus Lane, arriving at about 1 pm. The route will generally be flat, but it includes a steep section. Participants will need to arrange their own shuttle by leaving a car near the destination and driving another to the starting point at Rincon Beach County Park. Carpooling is encouraged.

Anza Trail Hike Through Carpinteria, Sun, Feb 22, 2026, 10:00 AM | Meetup

Almost 250 years ago, as the Declaration of Independence was signed on the East Coast, the Anza expedition arrived at its destination on the West Coast. Both of these events would dramatically shape the cultural and political landscapes of the United States.

Collaborating with the National Park Service, this exhibit recognizes the extraordinary achievements of the Anza expedition which travelled over Indigenous trails and brought the first Spanish families to settle in California. Anza located the San Francisco Presidio, established Mission Dolores and led an exploration of the East Bay.