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The Forgotten Trail to California | Salt Lake City News
In 1776, while the East was declaring independence, two Franciscan friars set out from Santa Fe on a daring 1,700-mile journey west to map a route to California—becoming pioneers of the American West. Though they never reached their goal, their detailed maps and journals became vital guides for future explorers, settlers, and even Latter-day Saint pioneers. Facing illness, lost trails, and rugged terrain, they encountered Indigenous peoples, traded, and spread Christianity, shaping European understanding of the region. Their legacy endured for centuries, influencing figures like John C…
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