California has long served as a destination and permanent home to people from around the world, and the state’s vibrant communities represent many cultures.

The year is 1769, and the Spanish arrived on the Coast of California, known then as Alta California. The Portolá expedition was the first recorded European exploration of the interior of present-day California. The expedition encountered, documented, and traded with the Native Americans up and down the coast, including our local Chumash.