Join us on Wednesday, October 23, at 7 p.m. when Phil Brigandi and Eric Plunkett will discuss their new book, The Portolá Expedition in Orange County.
The Portolá Expedition was the first Spanish overland exploration through what is now Orange County in 1769. It marked a turning point in the history of California and provides us with our first written descriptions of the area and its native inhabitants. The book includes brief biographies of Capt. Gaspar de Portolá and the other leaders of the march, a new interpretation of their route through Orange County, a new translation of the diary of Lt. Miguel Costansó, the expedition’s military engineer, and details on the expedition’s encounters with Indians, local place names, and the lasting influence of the expedition. Our featured speakers led the July 29, 2019, OC Historical Society tour to mark the 250th Anniversary of the Gaspar de Portola’s expedition.
Phil Brigandi, left, has been researching and writing local history since 1975, and is the author of more than two dozen books and hundreds of articles on the history of Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties. A native of Orange, California, he joined the board of directors of the Orange Community Historical Society at age 19, and became a member of the Orange County Historical Commission at age 23. He has served as Orange County Archivist, historian for the Ramona Pageant Association, and curator of the San Jacinto Museum.
Eric Plunkett, left, is a teacher and historian with a special interest in the Spanish and Mexican eras of California history. He has published several articles and maintains a history blog at www.visionsofcalifornia.blogspot.com. He was previously a guest speaker at the Dana Point Historical Society in February 2018. A native of Placentia, he graduated with a degree in history from California State University, Fullerton, in 2008.
We will meet in council chambers at Dana Point City Hall. A reception and book signing will be held in our museum immediately following the program. Books can be purchased on Amazon.com or by calling the Society (949-248-8121) one week in advance of the book signing to order a copy. Cost is $20 each.