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Hero Juan Bautista de Anza makes his return to Cupertino
By MELISSA MATCHAK
The Cupertino Historical Society, in conjunction with other local historical and cultural organizations, is sponsoring the commemoration and re-enactment of the Juan Bautista de Anza expedition and 93rd encampment of March 25 and 26, 1776.
The event will be held on March 24, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., coinciding with the 225th anniversary of the first overland expedition of Anza's party, which camped in what is now present-day Cupertino. The re-enactment will take place on a prominent knoll adjacent to Rancho San Antonio County Park. It was atop this knoll on March 26, 1776, that the estuary of San Francisco was first sighted during their journey up the peninsula toward San Francisco, and, ultimately, Fort Point where the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge now stands.
The commemoration is a "living history" event, which will include the De Anza Lancers of Cupertino, a military unit recognized by the state of California. Participants will include representatives from the Ohlone Tribe and descendants from the original expedition of 1776, represented by Los Fundadores de Alta California. Music from the historic period will be provided by El Conjunto California.
The event is open to those interested in learning more about the early history of California, including the Native Americans who inhabited the region and helped those who traversed 1,500 miles, mostly on foot through the desert regions of Mexico and Arizona to California.
The entire route of the expedition is to be implemented, where feasible, by the National Park Service as a recreational trail and park. Last year, the trail was one of 16 distinguished by the White House as a National Millennium Trail.
There is no parking at or near the knoll site on Cristo Rey Drive, or in the adjoining neighborhoods. Parking is available at the Rancho San Antonio County Park, a 10-minute walk from the commemoration site. For more information call the Cupertino Historical Society at 408.973.1495.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
