BajaNomad - Campo de Cahuenga Historic Re-enactment Jan. 14, 2018 11:30 am

Campo de Cahuenga Historic Re-enactment Jan. 14, 2018 11:30 am

David K - 1-6-2018 at 02:05 AM

Edit: Max and I can't make it, bummer!

Once again, author and El Camino Real bell historian Max Kurillo, and I, will be at the Campo de Cahuenga event in Los Angeles.

We will have a table full of books about Baja and Alta California missions for sale and Max usually has several of his El Camino Real souvenir bells from the early 1900s, too!

This event is right across the street from Universal Studios:

3919 Lankershim Blvd
Studio City, California 91604

Read more about the event and get directions from their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/campodecahuenga/

Also: http://www.campodecahuenga.com/

Photos from a previous year's event:

Pico and Fremont exchange...

Canon was fired twice and every car alarm in the several blocks went off! The crowd was too big for me to get a photo of it being shot.

Mexican uniform...

American uniform...

Max and the colonel...

Inside the museum...

General Andres Pico

Lieutenant Colonel John C. Fremont

Campo de Cahuenga adobe

One of two glass cases containing the bells on loan from Max Kurillo, my co-author

Our table

[Edited on 1-14-2018 by David K]

fishbuck - 1-6-2018 at 05:00 PM

Nice cannon!!!

David K - 1-7-2018 at 10:32 AM

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

Nice cannon!!!

It's quite loud! When the fire it off, many car alarms go off. Hope to see some L.A. area Nomads there a week from today! 'Mothership' (Mando) of L.A. Bay fame is a regular attendee and 'Agua Dulce' was another Nomad I met there.

Max has published several info booklets on Alta California missions this past year in addition to his newest books about all the Franciscan California missions (and he correctly names San Fernando de Velicatá as the first, not San Diego) along with his new El Camino Real and the bells edition, plus more!

At 87, Max is a treasure... past guest on Huell Howser's California Gold TV shows and frequent lecturer on the mission bells of California.

Here is the first edition of that book, which has been for sale for years:

The new edition features many historic maps showing the route of El Camino Real through California from the early 1900s, mid-1800s, and the 1700s.

I will have copies of my 2016 book, now in its fourth printing with a couple of updated photos and notes, and copies of Mike Humfreville's 'In the Shadow of the Volcano' (new, uncirculated) and Tom Miller's 'The Baja Book III' as well as a few other classics!

I think Max has a few copies remaining of these...

Next Sunday!

motoged - 1-7-2018 at 11:26 AM

Time for Mr. Dressup again....I remember playing "guns and war" when I was a kid....

I like the pic of the Baja Off-road vehicle...2 horsepower with posi-trak....

mtgoat666 - 1-7-2018 at 12:40 PM

Dk,
I hope you will get into the spirit of the event and dress up as a missionary!

Howard - 1-7-2018 at 12:47 PM

Friar Kier has a nice ring to it. :biggrin:

[Edited on 1-7-2018 by Howard]

bajaguy - 1-7-2018 at 01:17 PM

FYI....the painting of Frémont is in uniform showing his Civil War rank of Major General

David K - 1-7-2018 at 03:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Dk,
I hope you will get into the spirit of the event and dress up as a missionary!

Cute idea... but no, I am not part of the re-enactment or a member of the historical society there. Max Kurillo (my publishing business partner and co-author in 2012 (The Old Missions of Baja & Alta California, 1697-1834) has been a long time attendee selling his bells and books there and that is how I came to attend this event starting in 2013. We missed one year only since then because of bad weather.
Thank you for your interest... or should I say, Bless you my son?

David K - 1-7-2018 at 03:43 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

FYI....the painting of Frémont is in uniform showing his Civil War rank of Major General

What a good eye!
If I see get a chance to chat with any of the museum people or historians, I will bring that point up! Maybe there is no pre-civil war painting of him?

bajaguy - 1-7-2018 at 09:02 PM

Rank insignia for a Lieutenant Colonel of that time period should be a silver oak leaf on the shoulder straps

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

FYI....the painting of Frémont is in uniform showing his Civil War rank of Major General

What a good eye!
If I see get a chance to chat with any of the museum people or historians, I will bring that point up! Maybe there is no pre-civil war painting of him?

David K - 1-13-2018 at 10:55 PM

Sadly, Max is not able to travel and this is primarily his event. Let's hope for next year.

norte - 1-14-2018 at 09:30 AM

This must be the famous reenactment that memorializes the invasion of California by the USA that led to the "acquisition" of California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona. Mexico is probably proud there is a "baja" (loosely termed) page promoting this event.

David K - 1-14-2018 at 09:55 AM

The reenactment celebrates the peaceful transition of power by the Californios in Los Angeles.

This land was simply claimed by Spain with only a string of missions along the coastal corridor as a means of occupation. Mexico won its independence (on the mainland of today's Mexico) in 1821. The Californias (Baja & Alta) were still Spanish and even attempts by British (using Chilean Navy ships and crew) were made to harass the few Spanish soldiers in Baja California in 1822.

I guess the point is the land should be run by the majority of people who are there or by what they want. Alta California (like Texas) was rapidly being occupied by American pioneers and the young government of Mexico was simply not providing security or services. California had wanted independence from Mexico after 1822 and before 1847, when the treaty was signed at Campo de Cahuenga as a welcome to have protection by American forces.

Mexico didn't give up easily and killed many of the American forces at San Pasqual. The museum there (near The San Diego Zoo Safari Park) is an excellent display of the events there... http://www.militarymuseum.org/SanPasqual.html

American forces did occupy Baja California with a large base at La Paz as well as San José del Cabo and a locally famous battle at Mulegé, but during the treaty to end the war, the U.S. did not force the need to keep the peninsula. Baja California would be returned to Mexico even though the people of La Paz wished it not. Many Mexicans in La Paz who feared for their lives were given asylum in Alta California by the U.S.Navy.

America is a land for all people who want freedom and opportunity, after all.

Mexicans have been trying to get into the United States ever since, legally or otherwise. Sounds to me like the land the U.S. acquired in 1848 was a good thing for Mexicans. Baja California (as part of Mexico), did not get a single paved road from north to south until the end of 1973.

norte - 1-14-2018 at 11:31 AM

I guess that is why it is called the Mexican American WAR and the Manifest Destiny.

for your education.....http://www.history.com/topics/mexican-american-war