America’s origin story needs to include all of its territory and all of its people. California, Arizona, and all of the territories gained from Mexico in 1848 are part of that story. By studying the Anza Expedition of 1775-76, you and your students can gain a deeper understanding of our state and national territories as places of possibility that have been occupied and shaped by many different people. In detailed accounts of the journey and expedition members we get a window into first contact and see the blueprint for a diverse and dynamic population that continues to shape the future of the state, the nation, and the land. And through your own inquiry, you can reflect on how these places have been represented over time and refine the ways in which you express respect and care for these places.
You can start by exploring this StoryMap that will introduce you to the Anza Colonizing Expedition of 1775-76. Resources from the National Park Service will help you learn about the Anza Expedition and the widespread celebrations of Anza 250 that will be occurring throughout 2025 and 2026.
Then the learning expedition starts in October! Enroll in a series of online professional learning workshops held to mark the timing of the expedition 250 years ago. This program will connect with principles of Ethnic Studies as well as 5th and 8th grade H-SS standards.
Session 1 on October 22nd is titled "On the Frontier of New Spain: Empire, Culture, and the Making of an Expedition."
Understand the purpose of the expedition, learn about its leaders and the settlers who made the choice to start a new life, explore the route they took, and learn about contact they had with California’s indigenous peoples. Click here to learn more about the series and register.
October 22, 2025 4-5:30pm "On the Frontier of New Spain: Empire, Culture, and the Making of an Expedition"
January 7, 2026 4-5:30pm "Centering Difference in the Anza Expedition and Early California"
March 25, 2026 4-5:30pm "Legacies of the Expedition and the Making of Place in California, 1776 to 2026"
