California Travel Tips
Commemorating Cabrillo
Published on: September 27, 2016
Cabrillo National Monument (part of the National Park Service) in San Diego pays tribute to explorer Juan Cabrillo, who sailed into the San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542. Cabrillo Day is September 28, but the Cabrillo Festival celebration takes place this weekend.
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
- The world explorer is credited as the first European to discover the California coast for the Spanish Empire.
- Among the names he assigned: San Diego Bay was San Miguel | Santa Catalina Island was named San Salvador after his flagship | San Clemente Island was named Victoria | San Pedro Bay was named Baya de los Fumos or Smoke Bay | Point Conception was Cabo de Galera | Monterey Bay was Bahia de los Pinos.
- Cabrillo’s fleet completely missed San Francisco Bay which would remain undiscovered for two more centuries.
- On Christmas Eve 1542 Cabrillo returned south to Catalina Island to overwinter and make repairs. He stepped out of his boat, splintered his shin on a jagged rock while trying to rescue some of his men from attacking Tongva warriors, developed gangrene, and died on January 3, 1543. His burial spot is unknown.
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