Portola expedition
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The Portola expedition was led from 1769 to 1770 by Gaspar de Portolà and was the first known attempt by Spain to explore Upper California by land. The purpose of the expedition was to secure territories in Upper California before the Russians. They had planned to stop at Monterey to pick up supplies brought by a ship. The expedition consisted of 63 men, including Father Junipero Serra and Father Miguel Campa.
The expedition started in Loreto, in Baja California. It passed San Diego on July 14th, Los Angeles on August 2nd, Santa Barbara on August 19th, San Simeon on September 13th, Santa Cruz on October 1st, and San Francisco on October 31st. Then they realized that they had missed Monterey. They went back to San Diego, restocked, and went back. In 1770, they found Monterey.
The expedition is also famous for 'discovering' the coast redwoods of Santa Cruz County in October of 1769 and camped at the mouth of Waddell Creek, in present-day Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
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