This episode features an intriguing conversation with Jorge Del Castillo as he shares his experiences following the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. This historic trail was a route used by Spanish settlers in the 18th century to reach Northern California from New Spain (Mexico).

Jorge describes his journey, detailing various memorable sites, and shares his love for the history of California, the West, and Mexico. He also offers practical travel advice for anyone interested in following the trail, emphasizing the richness the trip adds to one’s understanding of history and culture. Additionally, Jorge shares his perspective on the Spanish influence on culture and historical sites in the Southwest.

A brief addendum from Jorge:

“Anza did find the trail and traveled back and forth on it at least twice. It was supposed to provide an alternative land route to the ocean route by boats, but it did not remain open. Initially, the Anza party, including a Native American translator and priests, established very friendly relations with the Yumans near the Yuma crossing of the Colorado River. He felt confident that he could leave a small contingent of Spanish colonists, including soldiers and priests, in two communities, one on each side of the river; however, those relations soured over a period from 1779 to 1781. The Spaniards demanded that the Native Americans provide food and other things for their subsistence in the desert along the river. They pushed too hard and deprived the natives of the necessary things for their own survival. This led to an eventual Yuman revolt and massacre or enslavement of all of the colonists.

Though the war against the Yumans continued throughout 1782, the principal leaders of the revolt were never apprehended, and the Yumans once again controlled their own lands. The Colorado River mission project had ended in failure. The Yuman revolt closed Spain’s overland route to Alta California, leaving the province dependent on resupply by sea for about the next 50 years. Anza had gone on to become the Governor of New Mexico, where he eventually subdued the Comanche tribe.”

References:

• Font, Pedro, trans and ed by Alan K. Brown, 2011, With Anza to California 1775-1776, The Journal of Pedro Font, O,F.M. Norman Oklahoma, University of Oklahoma Press, 464pp
• Bernal-Mendoza Smestad, Greg, PhD, 2005, “A Guide to the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail”, Antepasados, a publication of Los Californianos, Vol XI
• Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, United States National Park System website.

To learn more:

• The Story of Juan Bautista de Anza
• The Anza Expedition
• Interview with Descendant Greg Bernal Smestad

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Contact:
damian@californiafrontier.net