During the 1700’s the Spanish government looked to assert Spain’s presence in Alta California permanently by establishing protected ports for Spanish ships along the Alta California coast. One expedition in particular was monumental in helping Spain to reach this goal. In 1772, Juan Bautista de Anza, a native of New Spain and a captain in the Spanish army, proposed an expedition into the wilds of Alta California, which was approved by the King of Spain in 1774, and Anza immediately set out. Following the success of this expedition, Anza was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and ordered to return to Alta California with a group of colonists. This second expedition followed the trail of the first. Starting out in Tubac, Mexico in October of 1775, the expedition followed the Rio Alta southward, crossing the Colorado River at its confluence with the Gila River. The expedition moved steadily northward, reaching Monterey presidio March 10, 1776. One person died along the route, and 193 of the original colonists remained in Monterey to make it their home, many of whose descendants still reside in Monterey today. In 1976 the Heritage Guides of California, led by Winston Elstob and Helen Shropshire, conducted a bicentennial celebration reenactment of Anza’s historic expedition commemorating its importance in American History. Paul Trujillo was a participant in the Anza expedition reenactment. At the time of the reenactment he was a public works business manager at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. Replacing Dr. Ignacio Rodriguez, he took the role of Juan Bautista de Anza. He also participated in the role reenactment of Corporal Juan Peralta, a Spanish soldier of the expedition. Trujillo is a descendant of the original group of Anza Expedition settlers.

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