Alta California

Imperial Spain creates “Alta California” as part of its Mexican holdings.  The Spanish crown grants land to Catholic missions. In 1808 Gabriel Moraga leads the first Spanish expedition into the Sacramento Valley. With the aid of an Indian interpreter, Moraga’s task is to locate sites for missions and to report on rancherias (native villages). By 1821 the explorer Luis Argüello makes contact with the Patwin people. Argüello leads 68 men, including the expedition’s chaplain, Father Blas Ordaz, through Patwin territory.