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| Image: Maritime Museum of San Diego |
Visiting San Pedro on October 6-11, was this replica of the San Salvador.
It was built by craftsmen and volunteers of the San Diego Maritime Museum and was first launched in 2016.
The original San Salvador set sail in June 1542, on a voyage for California with Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in command.
It was a 200 ton galleon built in Guatemala in the late 1530's.
Looking for a new trade route to China, it arrived in San Diego on September 28, 1542.
It was the flagship of a small squadron and carried supplies and 100-120 men.
They are believed to be the first Europeans to come ashore in California, landing near present-day Point Loma.
Cabrillo named it San Miguel (today called San Diego Bay) and claimed the land for Spain.
The ships later continued up the coast stopping at Santa Catalina and San Clemente and passed through the Santa Barbara Channel Islands.
When strong winds forced them back to Point Conception, the ships anchored at one of the Channel Islands now call San Miguel.
During their week stay, Cabrillo broke his leg.
It is believed he died from gangrene from this injury (January 3, 1543) and was buried on Catalina Island.
His second-in-command brought the ships back to Navidad, arriving on April 14, 1543.
It is hard to imagine 100 men on this small ship, much less cargo, supplies, weapons, and animals (chickens, pigs, horses).
Cabrillo is a popular name in San Pedro. We have Cabrillo Beach (with two separate beach areas), Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Cabrillo Way Marina, Cabrillo Avenue Elementary School, and Cabrillo Liquors & Fine Wine.
