In 1776, a Spanish exploration party established a Franciscan mission, fort, and small village near the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula. More settlements were later founded, including Yerba Buena. This volume presents the story of how this sleepy Spanish settlement grew to become one of the most exciting cities in the United States.

In 1776, a Spanish exploration party led by Don Gaspar de Portola established a Franciscan mission, fort, and small village near the northern end of what is today the San Francisco Peninsula. More settlements were later founded, including Yerba Buena in 1836 - the town that would later become San Francisco. Readers of this colorful new volume will marvel at the story of how this sleepy Spanish settlement grew to become one of the most exciting cities in the United States.