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The project will match $12,500 of federal funds with an equal amount provided by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, Los Angeles County Prop A, and youth volunteers.

Recently, North East Trees completed a CCSP project to install an interpretive exhibit along the Los Angeles River near Los Osos Street. [See “Along the Trail.”] Also, this year, another exhibit depicting families camping near Picacho Peak was installed at Picacho Peak State Park in Arizona.

  Auto Route Signs
In December 1999, the NPS  received $200,000 in Federal Lands Highways funds to mark the Anza Trail auto route in California only. Half will go to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to manufacture all the signs and install those on Caltrans rights-of-way. Some will go to a contractor to install signs on county rights-of-way. 
With any remainder, we hope to prepare a trail guide so that people following the route will know what to visit. All together, about 525 signs will be installed. These signs should raise public awareness of the trail.		   Coming soon 
to a highway 
near you
 
 
 

The Arizona Department of Transportation plans to install the auto route signs with state funds.

The Peralta Adobe seen through the Peralta brand on the gate.

Peralta Adobe: 
First Certified Site

Somehow saved from the forces of development, this 1791 adobe in the very heart of downtown San José was one of the first houses in the second plaza of the Pueblo of San José. It may have been built by José Manuel Gonzales, who accompanied the Anza party.  Luis María Peralta, also with his parents on the Anza trip, became comisionado of San José from 1807-1822 and lived at the adobe until he died in 1851.  The site is City Landmark No. 1, California Registered Historic Landmark #866, and now the first site to be certified as an official component of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

The site may be the only extant building constructed and lived in by members of Anza’s colonizing party.  It offers the opportunity to interpret the legacy of the expedition in establishing the first Spanish pueblo in Alta California, El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe.

   VIP Report

The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail thrives to the degree that volunteers participate along the trail. Joan Throgmorton served as task-force co-chair for Santa Clara County during preparation of the Comprehensive Management and Use Plan and continues her support of the Anza Trail with her fellow Amigos—Ruby Domino and Phyllis Drake. They provide the local eyes and ears that all along the trail keep the NPS in touch with threats and opportunities. They notified the Henry W. Coe State Park superintendent of the Challenge Cost Share Program, which resulted in two effective grants: one to build a mile of the Anza Trail and another to design, manufacture, and install two interpretive displays.  They successfully advocated for state acquisition of Hunting Hollow on the west entrance of the park. It provides equestrian and pedestrian access to the Anza Trail.
Here is an excerpt from Joan’s 1999 Volunteer In the Park (VIP) report:

Joan riding a 
competition in 
Coe Park		 On-going during the year we prune, correct erosion, remove down trees. A culvert is needed as well as barriers for the switchbacks. I hope to get a trail crew going—maybe 4-Hers for community service and the San Martin Horsemen. A few of us are card holding trained crew leaders, and Coe has the tools we need.

Every year in April we open up the Oristimba Wilderness by lottery draw 
for a weekend and have about 1000 people. We equestrians set up a booth to explain our duties and display and pass out information on the Anza Trail.

While on patrol we sometimes have the opportunity to tell park users about the trail. Once a year we lead an interpretive ride and tell fellow horsemen about the trail.

Once a year the new Coe volunteer trainees go on a tour of the park. We explain the extra equestrian qualifications to the group, which includes regular volunteers as well, and tell a little about Anza and pass out the brochures if desired.
Chere Barger leads an interpretive ride on the Anza Trail in Henry W. Coe Park.