09 Jul Pasados del Presidio
This past weekend, the Anza Trail participated in the Pasados del Presidio event at the Presidio in San Francisco. It was two-day commemoration of the Presidio’s founding as a Spanish Army post, and honored the heritage of early Californian cultures—Native American, Spanish and Mexican—and the founding of El Presidio de San Francisco in 1776.
There was Ohlone Basket weaving, candle making, yarn spinning, Tortilla Making and Tasting, Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, Zazpiak Bat Basque Dancers, singers, and more!
The Anza staff had an Adobe Brick making stand to emphasize how the early settlers used adobe bricks as building material for their sturdy and safe housing. It was fun getting down and dirty with the little kids that came to visit!
On Saturday, the descendants of the original founding families of the Anza Expedition commemorated the journey of their ancestors and the founding of El Presidio de San Francisco. There was a color guard presentation, procession by the Amigos de Anza horse-mounted riders, and a roll call of the people who made the 1200+ mile trek from Sonora and Sinaloa (in modern Mexico).
In 1776, while American patriots fought for their independence from England, Anza led about 240 people more than 1,800 miles to settle Alta California. Their journey was the first colonizing expedition from New Spain to come overland into California. Juan Bautista de Anza’s father had a dream. He wanted to find an overland route to Alta California beyond the Spanish frontier, but he died in an Apache ambush in 1740 when Anza was three years old. Anza followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Spanish military, eventually becoming a captain on the frontier at the Tubac Presidio. Spain had been struggling to secure its outposts in Alta California from Russian and English exploration and colonization. Existing sea routes were dangerous and difficult. Just like his father, Anza requested permission from the Viceroy of New Spain, Antonio Maria Bucareli, to prove a land route to Alta California was possible. Permission was granted. Following Indian trade routes, Anza scouted a path in 1774 that would allow for a colonizing expedition, including much-needed livestock and supplies. Upon this success, he was granted permission to recruit and lead a group of settlers to Alta California. Spain’s goal was to establish the first colony in a place they called el río de San Francisco. Anza’s goal was to safely deliver the settlers, thus fulfilling his father’s dream.
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