De Anza Expedition Will Visit SG Mission Again
San Gabriel Mission
428 S. Mission Dr.
San Gabriel, CA 91776
Phone 626-457-3048
News Release
Feb. 2, 2009
Release: Immediately
Contact: Chuck Lyons, Public Relations Director, phone 626-457-3048
De Anza Expedition Will
Visit SG Mission Again
San Gabriel – “Vayan subiendo!”…Everyone mount bouncy castle for sale up! This became a familiar call from Spanish Captain Juan Bautista de Anza. In 1776, as Americans fought for their independence in the East, Anza led almost 300 people over 1,200 miles to settle Alta California. It was the first overland route established to connect New Spain with San Francisco.
On Saturday, Feb. 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail representatives and USA National Park Service rangers will visit San Gabriel Mission as the feature of San Gabriel Mission History Day.
Between January 4 and February 21, 1776, the Anza expedition rested at San Gabriel Mission after a difficult desert crossing before continuing north. Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail was established in 1990 and is administered by USA National Park Service.
The Anza Trail commemorates and interprets the epic journey and route the expedition traveled. The settlers Anza recruited and led were families with children from Sonora and Sinaloa seeking a better life in Alta California, according to an Anza Trail spokesperson. They eventually established the Presidio and Mission in San Francisco, changing the course of California cultural history and its natural landscape, continued the spokesperson.
People whom visit the mission for History Day on Feb. 7 dressed as a soldier or settler will receive a small gift. Participants also can learn about the journey from games and displays. There are a limited number of free packets about the trail for teachers. An Anza Trail spokesperson said participants might meet a Spanish soldado (soldier) or a descendent of the 1776 expedition.
Visitors also can see the church, grounds and gardens on a self-guided tour.
Interested persons can visit mission’s web site www.sangabrielmission.org for more information and they can get admission at mission’s gift shop. Admission prices are free for age five and younger, $3 for age 6 through 17, $5 for age 18-61, and $4 for age 62 and older. The mission church, museum, gardens and gift shop are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 359 days a year. Persons age 17 and younger must be with their parents or adult guardian.
Mission History Day is usually once a month on the first Saturday of the month, where visitors can learn more about mission history: people, cultures, events, buildings, artwork, artifacts, plant life and more. Some months a contest is scheduled.
Free self-parking is available on a first-come basis in the church lot at the intersection of Mission Road and Junipero Serra Drive or on nearby streets. The address is 427 S. Junipero Serra Dr., San Gabriel, CA 91776.
San Gabriel Mission was founded on Sept. 8, 1771 as the fourth oldest of 21 missions in California. The Roman Catholic parish has more than 70 active groups in a language of either English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Italian, Tagalog (Filipino) or Chinese.
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