1776 Overland Immigration Expedition

In January of 1776, San Gabriel Mission was host to trailblazer Colonel Juan Bautista De Anza and over 200 colonists and soldiers, enroute from Sonora, Mexico, to become the first residents of San Francisco. This was the first overland immigration into Upper Alta California. Father Font, Diarist, said of San Gabriel, "On our arrival, they killed 4 sheep, whose meat was good. I do not remember having eaten mutton more fat and tender, also chicken. All of us loved San Gariel Mission, its fat cows that give rich milk from which cheese and butter was made." As Father Paterna says, "It is like the Promised Land."

Bienvenidos . This historical marker was erected by Claretian Missionary Fathers 1908 to present. It is in San Gabriel in Los Angeles County California