The Spanish originally explored the southwest looking for the fabled "Seven Cities of Gold" which they never found. (Ironically, Marshall found gold in California a few weeks before the region was transfered to the United States by the Treaty of Hidalgo.) Discouraged, Spain mostly ignored its California possessions for almost two centuries, except as way stations for ships on the Manila trade, until Russia, France and England began to threaten its claims. At that point the Spanish began establishing missions and military towns. For a long time settlements in California and New Mexico were connected only by roads to Mexico City. The first Spanish explorers in the Mojave Desert were seeking trade routes between these two outposts. During the entire period of Spanish rule no complete route was found. Franciscan priest Francisco Garces came the closest, traversing a partial route that passed present-day Barstow.

Franciscan missionaries worked to Christianize coastal natives, but never reached as far as the Mojave Desert, which mostly remained a "forbidden zone" to the Spanish.

Perhaps the best way to get a "feel" for the Spanish era is to visit one of the missions, such as San Gabriel (www.sangabrielmission.org).

Last update 12:55 PM Fri. 27-Feb-2004 by ABS.