Carpinteria Adopts Resolution Supporting Living Heritage Trails

We’re proud to share that the City of Carpinteria has officially adopted Resolution No. 6436, affirming its support for long-distance living heritage trails and commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Juan Bautista de Anza expedition encampment near Carpinteria on February 24, 1776. The resolution recognizes that these routes are more than recreational pathways. They are living heritage corridors shaped by Indigenous peoples long before European arrival and layered with complex regional histories that continue to shape our community today.

The Carpinteria City Council awarded a proclamation to the Trails Council that honors the layered history of our coastline—from the ancestral lands of the Chumash people at Mishopshnow to the 1776 expedition.

By adopting this resolution, the City affirms its commitment to public education, historic preservation, respectful recognition of Indigenous histories, and inclusive community engagement through support of long-distance heritage trails, including the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. We are grateful to the City of Carpinteria for recognizing the importance of preserving, interpreting, and stewarding these historic routes for present and future generations.

Link to the full resolution: https://santabarbaratrails.org/docs/htc/carpinteria-resolution-6436-anza-02-23-26-w2.jpg

Coverage in the Santa Barbara Independent:
https://www.independent.com/2026/02/20/walking-a-complicated-history-santa-barbara-county-trails-council-to-lead-living-heritage-hike-along-the-coast/

The spring of 2026 marks the 250th year since the Juan Bautista de Anza expedition, a journey that brought more than 240 settlers through what is now Santa Barbara County in early 1776. This migration helped shape California’s early story and left traces that remain visible along the coast today. The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (Anza Trail) is more than a route through history. It is a living heritage trail that connects people across time, inviting reflection on how movement, landscape, and community continue to shape one another.

On February 24, 1776, the expedition entered Santa Barbara County near Rincon Point and camped at a site known as La Rinconada, close to the Chumash village of Mishopshnow, which the expedition referred to as La Carpintería. In his diary, Father Pedro Font described the coastal landscape, whale spouts rising offshore, and the Chumash people whose craftsmanship, maritime skill, and community life deeply impressed him. From there, the group traveled northwest through the Goleta Valley, where several large Chumash villages were located near what is now Goleta Beach County Park and the UCSB campus. The route continued past the coastal bluffs of El Capitán, Refugio, and Gaviota before the group made its final county camps within today’s Vandenberg Air Force Base and crossed the Santa Maria River near Guadalupe.

You can explore these firsthand accounts in the Diary of Juan Bautista de Anza and the Diary of Pedro Font.

As we approach this milestone, the Anza Trail reminds us that heritage is not something frozen in time. It is something we walk, ride, and experience. Every step on the trail connects us to centuries of movement along the California coast, from early migrations to today’s hikers, cyclists, and families discovering open space together. The Santa Barbara County Trails Council recognizes the Anza Trail as part of California’s larger network of living heritage trails. These routes are more than paths through nature. They are bridges between the past and future, offering opportunities to preserve culture, promote sustainable recreation, and strengthen community connections. Walking them today helps keep history relevant and alive.

There are many ways to celebrate this legacy close to home. Read books such as The Anza Trail And the Settling of California, explore a section of the Anza Trail on public land, or join a community walk or bike ride that follows part of the historic route. Local artists, historians, and land stewards are also finding new ways to bring the story to life through exhibits, talks, and outdoor events.

Ever wonder if someone with your surname might have been part of the original expedition You can explore the expedition’s full roster, route, and local connections here: https://www.californiafrontier.net/anza-members/

Learn More about Anza National Historic Trail

The Anza Trail is a living heritage trail that reflects the entire history of the land it traverses, encompassing both the past and present. Two and a half centuries ago, the men, women, and children who were expedition members represented a mix of Indigenous, African, and European heritages, reflecting the lower castes of colonial Spain. For the immigrants, this journey symbolized a "new beginning." However, for Native Americans, this migration dealt a devastating blow to their tribal world and marked the beginning of a long period of profound loss and struggle. To learn more about the tribal communities whose lands Anza traveled through, which continue to thrive and pass on their traditions, read the recently published Travel Guide to Tribes Along the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.