Colonial America
Colonial Events in California
64 events, page 1 of 2 — 1492 to early statehood
19,000 BC
Evidence of Human Occupation in California
California · Other · Pre-Columbian
13,000 BC
First Human Habitation of California
California · Other · Pre-Columbian
1492
Columbus Voyages Initiate Spanish Colonial Expansion
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1535
Cortés Claims Baja California Peninsula
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1539
Ulloa Expedition Proves Baja is a Peninsula
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1539
First Use of Name California Recorded
California · Other · Colonial Period
1540
Coronado Expedition Through Southwestern North America
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1542
Cabrillo Expedition Explores Alta California Coast
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1542
Cabrillo Expedition Explores California Coast
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1542
Spain Claims North Coastal California
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1565
Spanish-Philippine Trading Route Established
California · Other · Colonial Period
1579
Drake Claims Alta California as Nova Albion
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1579
Francis Drake Claims California Coast for England
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1602
Vizcaíno Explores and Charts California Coast
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1697
First Permanent Mission on Baja California Peninsula
California · Founding · Colonial Period
1697
Jesuit Expansion and Loreto Mission Founded
California · Founding · Colonial Period
1697
Pious Fund of the Californias Established
California · Other · Colonial Period
1697
Settlement Established at Loreto, Baja California
California · Settlement · Colonial Period
1741
Bering Expedition Spurs Spanish Action in Alta California
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1767
King Charles III Orders Expulsion of Jesuits from Baja California
California · Legislation · Colonial Period
1768
Portolá Expedition Plans Alta California Settlement
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1768
Franciscans Take Charge of Baja California Missions
California · Transition Of Power · Colonial Period
1769
Junípero Serra Founds San Diego de Alcalá Mission
California · Founding · Colonial Period
1769
Mission San Diego de Alcalá Founded
California · Founding · Colonial Period
1769
Spanish Missions Established in Alta California
California · Settlement · Colonial Period
1769
First Recorded Baptisms in Alta California
California · Other · Colonial Period
1769
Founding of El Presidio Real de San Diego
California · Founding · Colonial Period
1769
Founding of Mission San Diego de Alcalá
California · Founding · Colonial Period
1769
Founding of Presidio of San Diego
California · Settlement · Colonial Period
1769
Portolá Expedition Sent to Explore Alta California
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1769
Portolá Expedition First European Land Entry
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1769
First Europeans View San Francisco Bay
California · Expedition · Colonial Period
1770
Founding of El Presidio Real de Monterey
California · Founding · Colonial Period
1770
Serra Founds San Carlos Borromeo Mission at Monterey
California · Founding · Colonial Period
1773
Palóu Sets Boundary Between Baja and Alta California Missions
California · Other · Colonial Period
1774
Serra Sets Aside Tobacco Plants at Mission Carmel
California · Other · Colonial Period
1776
Founding of El Presidio Real de San Francisco
California · Founding · Colonial Period
1779
First Mission Grape Planted at San Juan Capistrano
California · Other · Colonial Period
1781
Founding of Los Angeles
California · Founding · Colonial Period
1782
Founding of El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara
California · Founding · Colonial Period
1783
First Wine Produced in Alta California
California · Other · Early Republic
1784
First Rancho Established in Alta California
California · Settlement · Early Republic
1785
Toypurina Leads Rebellion at Mission San Gabriel
California · Battle · Colonial Period
1785
Measles Epidemic Kills Tongva People
California · Other · Colonial Period
1804
First Citrus Orchard Planted at Mission San Gabriel
California · Other · Early Republic
1804
Las Californias Divided into Two Territories
California · Other · Early Republic
1804
Province of Las Californias Divided
California · Transition Of Power · Early Republic
1806
Measles Epidemic Devastates Mission Population
California · Other · Early Republic
1806
Measles Epidemics at California Missions
California · Other · Early Republic
1812
Fort Ross Established by Russian-American Company
California · Settlement · Early Republic
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