057: California's Untold Maritime History (Part 1) with author Eric Plunkett

Join host Damian Bacich and guest Eric Plunkett as they dive into the fascinating early maritime history of California. Plunkett reveals surprising details about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's 1542 expedition, including his connection to Cortez and the fall of Tenochtitlan. Learn how Cabrillo documented Chumash village names that remained unchanged for centuries and how Native American trade networks helped Spanish explorers communicate across vast distances. Discover lesser-known stories of the Manila Galleons, shipwrecks, and a possible "California Cabeza de Vaca" - a Spanish pilot who may have walked from Northern California back to Mexico City in the 1580s. This episode challenges common assumptions about early California history and reveals the complex web of exploration, trade, and cultural exchange that shaped the region long before the mission era. Eric Plunkett is a historian based in San Juan Capistrano specializing in early California exploration and indigenous history.Send a Comment.Support the showGive a one-time donationLearn more about the California Frontier Project:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramFacebookContact:[email protected]