Santa Monica

How Santa Monica got its name

Santa Monica, California coastal view
Father Juan Crespi was a Franciscan in Gaspar de Portola’s expedition party. Portola was the land based military arm of the Spanish colonizing effort that was headed by Junipero Serra that founded the system of Missions starting in San Diego and stretching to San Francisco that defines to this day California with its “missionary” style.

Crespi, inspired by a free-flowing natural spring, named Santa Monica for the saint who wept for her wayward son.



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