Saturday Speaking Event

The Clarke Historical Museum, Humboldt County Historical Society, and Humboldt County Library invite you to join us for the June 2025 Saturday Speaker Series.

On June 9, 1775, 250 years ago, the Spanish frigate Santiago and schooner Sonora sailed into what is now Trinidad Bay. This historic landing marked the first recorded contact between Europeans and the Yurok people of the Tsurai Village, a pivotal moment for the history of Humboldt County and the greater North Coast.

Join Patricia Fleschner, Director of the Trinidad Museum, for a deep dive into this pivotal expedition. Fleschner holds an MA in history and specializes in Spanish exploration of the Pacific Northwest between 1769 and 1795. She has presented to various institutions, including Cal Poly Humboldt’s OLLI program, the Humboldt County Historical Society, and more on topics such as Spanish landings, maritime discoveries, and coastal mapping.

This presentation will draw from the journals of Bruno de Hezeta and Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra to illuminate the goals, experiences, and long-term consequences of the 1775 voyage of discovery.