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In 1772 a group of Spanish soldiers led by Captain Pedro Fages and Father Juan Crespi explored Mt. Diablo and the surrounding areas. These early expeditions were made in an effort to locate new mission sites. The exploring party usually consisted of a few soldiers, a priest, a commander, native guides, and padres who recorded their findings in diaries. Diarists of the Fages party described the natives as "friendly" and "good humored," and willing to exchange gifts with the Spanish The primary goal of the Spanish missionaries was to Christianize the Indians through baptism. Although no mission existed east of Mt. Diablo, local Indians were taken to Mission San Jose for baptism. Records reveal that Indians from this area sometimes rebelled against the Spanish, requiring military force to be used against them. Oftentimes, Indians escaped from the missions and returned to their native lands. After the arrival of the white settlers there was a rapid decline of the Indian population. By 1900 there were only 16,000 Indians in the entire state.The decimation of the Indian population was due to several factors including disease, declining birth rate, high infant morality and warfare. Information ~ Early History ~ The Parlor ~ The Bedrooms ~ The Kitchen The Office ~ Farm Equipment ~ For Teachers Historical Researcher: Ann Wolfe
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