18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com A Spanish expedition made its way through Monterey County 250 years ago on its way to colonize San Francisco. Commemorating the trek today is complicated. By Pam Marino The Legacy A sign post in San Juan Bautista marks a trailhead of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. It’s one of a few places locally where hikers can walk along the same path as the expedition. Two-hundred-fifty years ago this month, in March 1776, commander Juan Bautista de Anza under the banner of Spain led 240 men, women and children through Monterey County on an 1,800-mile trek. They were on their way from Mexico to colonize San Francisco. It was a monumental feat at the time, one that led to the eventual founding of California and the West as we know it. The expedition began in Sonora, DANIEL DREIFUSS
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