| Santa Catarina Springs | |
|---|---|
 Santa Catarina Springs plaque on dirt road | |
| Location | Santa Catarina Springs Anza-Borrego Desert State Park |
| Coordinates | 33°22′19″N 116°26′27″W / 33.3720°N 116.4407°W / 33.3720; -116.4407 |
| Built | March 14, 1774 |
| California Historical Landmark | |
| Designated | March 18, 1963 |
| Reference no. | 785 |
  Location of Santa Catarina Springs in CaliforniaShow map of California Santa Catarina Springs (the United States)Show map of the United States | |
Santa Catarina campsite (transl. Saint Catherine or Catherine of Alexandria) in the Borrego Valley, Borrego Springs, California, in San Diego County, is a California Historical Landmark No. 785 listed on March 3, 1958. The Santa Catarina campsite was a desert camp for the Spanish Commander Juan Bautista de Anza and Father Francisco Garcés expedition of 1775 and 1776. At the campsite the expedition rested and watered its stock of mules, cattle, and horses on March 14, 1774.
The expedition passed though the Imperial Valley then though the Colorado Desert, now Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The expedition's goal was to start Spanish missions in California and presidio forts though Las Californias to San Francisco Bay. The expedition route is now the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.
A historical marker is near the campsite in the desert on Santa Catarina Springs, 10 Miles Northwest of Borrego Springs on 4 wheel drive road, in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The marker was placed there by the California State Parks Commission working with the Squibob Chapter, E Clampus Vitus in 1963.
See also
- California Historical Landmarks in San Diego County
- Borrego Valley groundwater basin
- Box Canyon (Borrego Springs, California)
External links
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Official website – National Park Service
- Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail – detailed Maps by County
- Anza Trail Foundation
- Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail – BLM page
References
- "Santa Catarina campsite #785". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
- "Santa Catarina Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org.